It’s a dreary, drizzly day here in DC, and I’m lucky to be working from home, nice and dry, watching the rain fall with my furry sidekick.
The forecast for the next week in DC is looking pretty bleak – lots of rain, with no sign of the gorgeous crisp and sunny fall weather that this area is known for. I was starting to feel bummed out about it, and then, remembering something, I started to smile.
Here’s that something I remembered, so that you might remember it next time it rains, either outside or in your own mind, and smile, too.
Many years ago, when Matt and I were in our early 20’s and first dating, we were sitting in his basement room at the group house he shared with a bunch of his buddies. I didn’t love that basement, though he did – it was dark and when it rained it always felt especially dank and dreary. This particular day we were staring out the window, watching the rain pour down. We had had plans to do something fun and outdoorsy together that day, and I was bummed.
“This sucks,” I said. “I really wish it were nice outside.”
Matt paused, and I waited, thinking he was going to agree with me. But instead, a moment later, he looked back at me and smiled.
Then he said: “It’s nice if you’re a rain drop.”
If I wasn’t already in love with him by that point, that sealed the deal. What a sweet and completely unexpected thing to say – and exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. I immediately burst out laughing. He was right! All I needed was a little change in perspective.
Anytime it’s raining, or I’m in a situation where I’d benefit from a change of perspective, I think of what he said that day. Because it’s so true. We can’t control the weather, or other people, or what happens to us. But we can control how we react to it.
With that in mind, I thought I’d take a break from your regularly scheduled food and fitness adventures and share this instead in case any of you guys needed the reminder, too. Because it really is all about perspective, isn’t it?
