Bernadette Wagner:

I’ve heard people say, social media causes FOMO or Fear Of Missing Out. I don’t doubt that can be the case, but sometimes social media can enrich your life and make feel included, like you were there…even if you weren’t!  Thanks to my friend, Melissa Pennington, I had the chance to experience the beauty of the Northern Lights through the beautiful photos she posted on Facebook.

Seeing Melissa’s pictures inspired me to do a little research. I’m no scientist or astronomer but here, in layman’s terms, is what I learned from an article on the Maryland Geological Survey website. Every eleven years the Sun reaches a period of maximum surface activity, creating very large solar flares that eject debris toward the Earth.  When this material slams into our planet’s upper atmosphere it causes geomagnetic storms that can disrupt electronic communications and disturb electrical power transmission, but it can also cause the aurora borealis or “Northern Lights.”

I am reminded of the wise, old saying, “Every storm cloud has a silver lining”, which conveys the notion that, no matter how bad a situation might seem, there is always some good aspect to it. In this case, a geomagnetic storm allowed Melissa to capture the unbelievable beauty of the natural world and she, in turn, literally brightened my world with her stunning photographs. I wish I had been standing by Melissa’s side so I could tell you how it felt to see aurora borealis, but I can’t.  Fortunately, Melissa can!

Melissa Pennington:

I’m so glad my photos of the Northern Lights spoke to you! Seeing them in person felt like stepping into a dream I’ve had my entire life. I always imagined what it would be like to witness the aurora borealis in person, but nothing could have prepared me for the pure magic of the moment. It was as if the sky itself was dancing, painting bright mystical colors across the heavens. Sharing that experience through social media let me pass that dream on to others, possibly giving hope to someone, like a patient recovering from surgery, who might find comfort in the beauty of that moment during a difficult time.

Lately, social media seems filled with images of destruction and loss, and the beauty of the aurora borealis was a much-needed reminder that even in a world full of chaos, there is hope. It felt like the universe was gently reminding me, “You are not alone. You’re not missing out. You are exactly where you’re supposed to be.” At that moment, I realized my life, while not perfect, was far from small. The story I’m writing is my unique journey, filled with beauty and challenges, and that’s how I’ll leave my mark on this world.

The Northern Lights reminded me that beauty is waiting to be revealed even during life’s storms. This week, millions of people across the United States witnessed the aurora borealis, a phenomenon many thought they’d never see, and this is a reminder that nothing is truly out of reach. We may often feel like we’re missing out, but life has a way of showing us that if we stay open to possibility, nothing is impossible.

Melissa Pennington is a registered nurse with a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Quality and Safety in Nursing. She is an expert in many areas of nursing including medical-surgical nursing, palliative care, and oncology.  For the past two years, Melissa has been a full-time nursing instructor at Valley College in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where she is committed to educating the next generation of nurses.