Why I Love the Rain

The clouds roll in over the lake like a blanket on a cold winter night.

A rain storm is coming. The true sign of revitalization for the scorched earth that this summer in particular has brought to my New England town.

I sit on my porch, listening to the far off thunder, and wait for the lightning to begin.

As a child I remember my mother allowing us to play in the summer rain. The blacktop releasing steam as our little feet splash in the puddles. The rain was a blessing by Mother Nature. It seemed to nurture my soul as much as it did our garden.

As I grew older, I forgot about the peacefulness of a cool rain on a hot summer day. I went through a period in my life when rain meant sadness and gloom. A period that took me away from my childhood. A period too many of chronic illness fighters have to go through.

Sitting on the porch, I feel the first rain drop on my hand. I lean over, and heavy rain begins to fall from the skies. The type of summer rain you only get once a year. The type that brings me back to my childhood.

I love the rain. There is something about it that heals my soul.

We all go through rainy periods in our lives, and I find that it happens more than I would like to admit with my chronic illness. What if we started to appreciate the rain? What if we started to accept the rainy moments in our lives, especially when most of these moments are out of our control.

The last time we had a rain storm I decided to take a run outside. My fiancé saw me getting my running shoes on, confused as to why I would run in the rain. My response: “Everyone else is inside taking a day off, why would I miss this opportunity”.

There is something invigorating about capitalizing on the raining days. While everyone else is inside upset about the weather, chronic illness fighters know how to persevere.

Next time it is raining, smile, and take in the beauty of mother nature. Rainy periods of life will come and go, but always remember you have the strength to go running in the rain.

Dave