Like a Walk in the Rain

Making the most of life, rainy or not.

My shoes were gross and making that squishy sound shoes make after you’ve stepped in a puddle. My shirt felt heavy as it clung to my body. I used it to wipe the rain from my face, which, I admit, was pretty futile.

I’ve grown quite fond of my morning walks this summer. Getting up just a touch early. Bringing a book along as I walk the length of the little road in front of our home. Reading while walking is a weird thing, apparently, but it has become my favorite way to start the day.

I was busy trying to shield my Kindle from the raindrops as they poured down at a steady pace. I was annoyed. Mother Nature was ruining my morning routine.

But as I continued walking, I smiled and stomped into a puddle. I thought of my 5-year-old, who had jumped into one with all his might, splashing his brother in a parking lot a few weeks prior. It was just seconds after his mother said, “Ian, watch out for the puddle.” He immediately got that ornery look on his face, threw up his hands, and questioned her. “What?!”

Channeling my son’s ability to find a bit of joy in the midst of soggy circumstances, I decided to finish my walk. I continued on for another 15 minutes or so. Luckily, the rain lightened up, never going into a full squall but never quite dying out either. It wasn’t the most comfortable walk I had ever taken, but I made the most of it. I enjoyed it.

“Life can be a little like walking in the rain” was the thought that flooded my brain. It’s a bit annoying, but it’s also a bit sweet in a melancholy sort of way. It’s not ideal. You certainly wouldn’t choose to have rain on your morning walk. But, at the same time, it can be whimsical depending on your outlook and disposition.

Life is a bit like walking in the rain. It is what you make of it.