Rainy days and Mondays

On particularly drab days, we seem, in general, less inclined to smile. Through the dreary drizzle we ‘trudge’ and ‘mope’ with heads bowed against the rain, in place of ‘strolling’ or ‘meandering’ along sunlit boulevards... Sunglasses swapped for umbrellas, we huddle ourselves away under waterproof layers, and raise our shields to divert the downpour. 

Call me overly British for talking about the weather, but it can be a real game-changer, and there’s a lot to be said for paying attention to pathetic fallacy: the notion of the mood reflecting the weather definitely takes body when the rains come down, as misery levels inevitably do go up. Heed must be taken on these days to not let such a triviality ‘dampen‘ our spirits (if you’ll pardon the pun).  


But if we take a moment, we might see the glistening raindrops chase each other down the window pane; the cherry blossom reflected in the rivery pavement’s mirrored surface; the way bright colours are accentuated as they stand against the backdrop of grey; the beaming smile of a wellied-up child stomping in puddles... If we never pause and appreciate whatever comes our way, we might miss the rich smell of the warm earth after a good soaking, the salty tang of the sea in the breeze, or the patter of nature’s drumbeat as it strikes the paving. For, after all, the sheer magic and majesty of a good thunderstorm or the delight of letting it all go and just dancing in the rain are surely rivals to a the calm enshrouding a balmy evening or the splendour of starlit dusk, are they not?
And yet we forget it all as soon as there is a dampness in the air. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not keen on unsolicited outdoor showering, nor the chilly sensation of moist feet in wintery weather. But the beauty of torrential rain is that sometimes you just have to give in, admit that your shoes are simply beyond drenched, and enjoy that liberating ‘squelching’ feeling that is associated with wet socks, or walking in flip-flops down a flooding road. 

And the best part about it all? When the sun comes out after the rain. The glorious surprise of warm rays placating the earth, transforming monochrome to technicolor, dappling shadows here and there, buds unfurling and stretching their petals in the glow, safe in the knowledge that after the rain, all will be right in the end. And ultimately, that a few drops of rain can be as beautiful and valuable as a nice dose of sun. Enjoy.