Walking in the rain can literally and figuratively be a dampening process. However, it can also be an enlightening experience if you accept the rain instead of resisting it.
I once went walking in the rain and it bought about three startling discoveries.
1. When you walk through the rain you are going to get wet.
You may laugh at a discovery that is seemingly simple logic. But, I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve utilized giant umbrellas, ran through parking lots or outstretched a coat above my head all in an effort not to get wet; all in an effort to avoid the rain.
There are people who spend their whole life avoiding the rain. They learn to accept ongoing clouds or they embark on an endless chase of the sun. Then there are others who allow the rain, but do everything they can to avoid getting wet when it comes.
In life the rain clouds will come, it’s part of the human experience. When the clouds come if you spend all your energy trying to avoid the rain you are only prolonging the inevitable.
2. It’s just water.
The rain will get you wet and maybe a little cold, but it will not kill you. Appreciate the rain for what it is — a cleansing, renewal period.
The rain may make navigation a bit more difficult, and getting wet may be uncomfortable; but the rain will eventually stop and you’ll dry off. Water is a necessary component of the growth process.
3. Sometimes walking through the rain is the only way to get where you’re going.
In life it’s inevitable that you’re going to encounter rain. When you see the dark clouds approaching you have a couple of options.
You can turn back, put off where you’re going and stay inside; electing to remain dry, cozy and comfortable. Inside you can wait for the forecast to change.
Or, you can go out in the rain knowing you’ll get wet, but also knowing the rain will provide what you need to flourish.
You don’t know when, or if, a better day is coming, but you do know if you walk through the rain you’ll get to where you’re going.
The rain is your lesson and getting wet is part of the learning process. Without the rain everything remains dry; without the rain things remain stagnate.
When the rain comes embrace it. There’s beauty in the rain. You have to get wet to blossom.
