This too shall pass

For those of you that know me, you will know that I have a tattoo on my wrist with the words "This too shall pass." These words are some what of a motto in life, the words I live by.
Not everyone knows what they mean, so I thought I would share this story with you:

One day, King Solomon set a task for his advisers. They had six months to find a ring. This ring would have the power to make a happy man sad, and a sad man happy. A 'magical' ring.

His advisers spent a few months searching, but did so in vain. Until one of his advisers, Benaiah, stumbled upon a merchant whilst walking in the market place.
“Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?” asked Benaiah
Benaiah watched as the man took a golden ring from his pocket, and when he read the words inscribed on the inside of the ring- he couldn't help but smile.

Benaiah and the advisers all came back to the king at the end of the six months.
"Well, my friend,” said Solomon, “have you found what I sent you after?” All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled.
 To everyone’s surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, “Here it is, your majesty!”
 As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words “Gam zeh ya’avor” — “This too shall pass.” At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.”

The moral of the story is that nothing lasts forever. No pain, no sorrow, and no happiness.

I use these words to remember, that no matter what it is I am going through- it is merely temporary. So I try and remind myself to enjoy the moments of joy, love, laughter, happiness, and that no 'storm' lasts forever.