How I Beat Stress Today: By Playing in the Rain
I just wanted to write a quick post to share an experience I had today. This post is very raw. I didn’t edit much. I got inspired and decided to write.
This morning, I got up on the wrong side of the bed. It just didn’t start well. First of all, I slept way past my alarm. I had my mom asking me to play travel agent for her, which I don’t like to play, and just struggled to get the morning started.
After making breakfast, I sat at my computer screen and found myself just wasting time with no goal in mind for the morning.
Not a great way to start.
So I dragged myself out of the house to go for a run. I needed to relieve some stress and exercise.
Even during my run, I had so much on my mind. Stressful and negative thoughts bombarded me and no matter how I tried to not think about it, I couldn’t. No matter how much I tried to block them, they annoyingly stuck around.
I finished my run and walked back home. The clouds had been overcast the whole morning. It was a nice change from the hot Florida mornings. It did sprinkle a bit. I saw dark clouds in the distance. I hoped for some heavy rain because the city could use some. I just hoped it would happen after I got home.
When I started to walk home, about 10 minutes away, it immediately started to pour. Heavy. Big rain drops. I felt like I was standing in my shower. Within minutes there were huge puddles in the street. (Luckily there was no thunder or lightening otherwise I would have rain my ass back home.)
I haven’t been caught outside in a rain storm in so long. And you know what? It felt so damn good. When I realized I’m about to get absolutely soaked as the rain got harder, I smiled. I enjoyed every single second. I walked slower than normal. I could feel my shoes and socks squishing around but I didn’t care. I walked like it was a sunny cool spring afternoon and I just won the lotto. That’s how I felt.
All those thoughts I had in the morning washed away as rain came down on me. Almost with a snap of a finger. I felt no stress anymore. All I could I think about was how great it felt to be in the rain. I loved the feeling of getting absolutely drenched in the rain and not caring.
Cars that drove by may have thought “poor guy caught in the rain” but I couldn’t have been any happier.
I came home and immediately took a hot shower. That rain shower completely changed my day for the better. Since that rain shower, I’ve been in a much better mood. I thought exercise would relieve my stress but it took playing in the rain like a kid again to bring some happiness in my day.
As I write this I keep thinking of this morning and the feeling of being in the rain and hear the rain come down. Parents might say I’m crazy and I’ll get sick but I’ll take the chance because such a simple experience kick started my day. Totally priceless.
Have you had an experience like this when you felt like a kid again?
Has it been awhile since you’ve played in the rain?
I hope you all have a great weekend. You all are the best.
Photo by EJP Photo
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