Lessons from the Rain

Let's not mention the fact that I straightened my hair for nothing this morning! It's sure to spring into a full-out FRIZZY mess within minutes. 

But as I warm the car and listen to the sounds of raindrops hitting my roof, I can't help but notice the stillness that is around me. Even the birds seem to be hiding this morning. All I want to do now is go back inside and curl up beside the fire with a warm cup of cocoa and a great book in hand. The thought of doing so immediately relaxes my body and even makes me smile. There really is comfort in this image. It's almost as inviting as a lazy day at the beach, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the hot sand between my toes. Almost. 

So what is the difference, then, between a cold, wet day and a warm, sunny day? Well, we could list a ton of things, couldn't we? But for me, it's the difference in the direction each one takes, or should take us. And it's the difference between the two that makes us appreciate the other so much more. Like, if every day was a beach day, would we still love it THAT much? I doubt it. To us here on the West Coast, our change of seasons allows us to reflect, to adapt, to mourn, to cling, to wish, to hope, to dream, to remember, to rejoice and to appreciate all that we have and do not have in any given moment. 

The rain today has reminded me to slow down. It's okay to sometimes take a day off from all of the things on my to-do list. It's okay to "waste" the day, curled up in front of the fire with my book and my dog at my feet. It's even okay to SLEEP! Who wants to do that when the sun is shining and everyone is out having fun?

So, I encourage you to reflect on the weather wherever you are and to see what lessons you might take from Mother Nature today. If you are like me, struggling with the physical limitations of a cold and damp season, or with the mental blues that often accompany the long, dark days of winter, then I challenge you to also turn your thoughts around by asking yourself what your day is offering you.  Is it asking you to slow down? Is it sparking an idea of a great family holiday in the sun or inspiring you to save up for a weekend at the lake this summer? Is it forcing you into the office looking like a disheveled mess, even when you have that very important presentation to do in front of the board? Is it teaching you that they don't really care what you look like because it's your brains and creativity that they admire most in you? Is it teaching you, type A personality, that you don't actually have control? 

If you happen to be someone who is experiencing your own version of perfect weather today, then I hope you are grateful for it. Truly grateful. Sometimes what is on the outside really does do wonders for our insides too. To all of you out there who might be struggling to find the gifts beneath the storm clouds, I wish you a day that feels like the warmth of the sun on your skin, even if you must light a fire or run a hot bath to get to it. As for me, it's time to go make that nice hot cup of cocoa and remind myself how good that feels.