Written By: Moriah Arnold
Growing up in the Oregon Valley has made me very familiar with the rain and the gray skies. As a child, I often found joy in the non-stop rainy days of winter, using it as an opportunity to put on my rubber boots and splash around in the vast puddles overtaking the sidewalks and the streets of my hometown. I saw the rain in a different light than my parents did. They often complained about how it never seemed to end. They always commented on how overwhelmingly dreary life felt with constant rainy days. As an adult, I have started to understand. The past couple of years living in Eugene for school, I have been met with constant rain and cloudy skies. The cold and gray weather is something I have come to know well in the fall and winter months. I’ve had many conversations with my friends about feeling down during the winter months, but I want to reignite my love for the rain. Especially since the rain is something that seems to come and go whenever it pleases, I want to welcome the rain with open arms and appreciate it for what it is and what it does for the earth.
I have been asking those around me what their favorite rainy day activity is, and the overarching theme is that with the rain comes comfort. Some choose to embrace the sounds of the rain by opening a window and listening to the pitter-patter of drops on their window panes. Some cook a warm meal to make the cold weather a little cozier. My personal favorite activity to do when I am met with “icky” weather is to bundle up and watch my favorite movie. Maybe even read a book or take some time to journal. Grab a friend and dance in the rain, or splash in the puddles that accumulate on the streets. Romanticize the little things and pretend you’re in a coming-of-age movie. Take the little moments as they come. The rain doesn’t last forever, so you might as well have fun and embrace it while you still can.
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