Rainy Days

          I woke up today at the crack of dawn, thanks to a medication calculation test at 7 am.... Even though I was not too happy about having to wake up that early, I was pleasantly surprised when I walked outside to a cool morning with an overcast sky. You could feel the coming rain in the air. After surviving a 10 hour day consisting of two 2-hour lectures and 2 exams, I came home to rest and enjoy the calm and beautiful evening. As I write this I am now curled up warmly in my bed, in leggings and a tank, and I am even wearing EOB's purple fuzzy no-slip hospital socks (safety first right?)

          I feel like not a lot of people like rainy days, they feel like the are stuck inside because the weather is so dreary and dull. I, on the other hand, absolutely love rainy days, probably more than I like sunny days. Yes, sunny days are bright, happy and warm. But rainy days are calm, serene and beautiful in my eyes. When I was younger, I didn't like the rain, because when it rained I was stuck inside. I'll admit that another reason I never liked the rain as a young girl was because I, like many other children, believed it only rained when God was sad. In my little eyes, the rain drops were tears falling straight from God's eyes. As I grew older, I began to appreciate the rain and began to see the beauty of rainy days. Without the rain, the earth would not be nourished, the grass would not be green, and the flowers wouldn't grow. All the things that people love about sunny days would cease to exist.

          Rain is under-appreciated. I think some people view the rain as depressing and saddening, and never feel the need to truly appreciate it. This is why some people find the idea of living in Seattle so unbearable. The Pacific-Northwest does get the most rainfall every year, but it is also one of the most beautiful place that I have ever been. As I have grown older, the rain has become very calming and therapeutic to me. I love the smell of the rain, it is so fresh and pure. I love how when it rains, everything seems to slow down and become more relaxed. I love the way that I feel when the first, cool raindrop hits my skin and a smile grows on my face as I look up at the sky. As much as I love being in the rain, the feeling when I get out of the rain is just as amazing. There is nothing better than getting into warm comfy clothes and curling up in bed with a hot cup of mint green tea. (while watching the Cardinals' game this afternoon)

          So the next time it rains, don't dread it and wish the rain would stop. Instead enjoy the rain. Try and see the beauty as each drop falls from the sky. Let the cool air wash over you and take all your worries with you as it drifts away. Don't be afraid to dance in the rain. Set yourself free. Trust me, it's worth it.