My love for rainy days stems from the fact that I
never had birthdays without rain. On every eve of my birthday, my parents and
sisters would usually be busy preparing for my big day and I would sit at the windowsill
near the front door staring up at the dark grey sky and tracing lightning bolts
as rain starts to pour in. My birthdays are always characterized with
thunderstorms, scattered rain showers and lightning bolts. It comes so strong
that a lot of times it doused my guests and damped their spirits to revel my
big day.
While a lot of my guests loathe rain, I never
felt happy when it pours down. There is this unspeakable phenomenon happening
in me that when it drizzles down I feel empowered and very much alive. I find
comfort and peace at the kind of music raindrops make. I love the smell of the petrichor;
of how withered from the last summer stirred in a wet air like a scented
aromatic perfume. I get excited wearing
sweater and sipping a hot chocolate or freshly brewed coffee while watching the
rain pour down. Likewise, it keeps my mood buoyant as the coldness of shower
mist spread through my room beckoning me to return to my bed, rolled myself in
a warm blanket and read.
Growing up, it dawned on me that rain will always
be a part of me. It has actually been a part of my every first and life
milestones; I got first job as a writer after braving the storm and being
drench in the rain. My first romantic date was when a guy I liked asked me to
go out with him while thunderstorms and lightning roared behind my ears. My
first international travel was during an extremely inclement weather that I
have to wait at least 8 hours in Detroit, Chicago for my connecting flight to
Dulles International Airport in Washington.
Perhaps a coincidence, but rain occupies a very
special place in my heart. I always thought of it as a blessing, a metaphor and
a versatile symbol that teaches me of the truths of life. The literal and figurative implications and meanings
of rain convey realities that are very applicable in our everyday life. I have
discovered three and here are they.
1.
An opportunity to appreciate beauty in the ugliest
days- Many of us looked at rainy
days as “less than days”. I would not contend on that because a rainy day has its
own inconvenience. Traffic is worse. Just getting in and out of the car is a
major challenge. Having an umbrella would not guarantee you dryness. To top it
off, everything is grey and flat-out depressing. But looking at the bright
side, rain is beautiful in its own way. You encounter small act of kindness as
stranger share an umbrella with you. It gives you a sense of relief from the
heat of the sun. More importantly, it reminds us that after the rain there is
always a rainbow that prompts us of God’s promises.
2.
Force us to go out of our comfort zone- Rain forces us to go out of our comfort zone
and to do the unimaginable. I mentioned earlier that I got my first job as a
writer after braving the storm and literally being drench in the rain for a
final interview with the Director of the Company. I learned a great deal from
this experience. It always reminds me to
go out of my comfort zone. If I followed
my natural instinct to stay at home, do what will make me comfortable and wait
for the rain to stop, I would not land on my first job that opened doors of
opportunities and connections.
3.
Quiets restless soul - When it rains, the wind is also making its
presence known in subtle, gentle ways. If we just clear our minds we could see how
tree limbs sway back and forth; each dancing its own distinctive dance and how
it brings harmony and peace. This scenario reminds me of that still small
voice. Though it is subtle, it is powerful enough to heal, to mend, to love and
to guide us in the way it should be. Apart from the wind, the rhythmic sound of
the rain reminds me of rest. The music sound of the rain appeals so much in my
brain that it quiets by busy mind and a lot of times it helps me to fall asleep
easily.
Rain is a
lot like love. It resonates that it opens and enlivens our heart making it feel
like being home.
I am a
lover of rain. A pluviophilia.
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