My Dear Rain Storm

Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/user-198738908/my-dear-rain-storm

There is an old familiar silence where you stand with your feet tentatively planted in the raw exposed Earth. At your fingertips is the entire universe just waiting to be conquered by those hands. You have been shaped by each and every experience whether it was one of pleasure or pain. Life does not hesitate in the same places you do, it is a constant flow. Take those emotions you feel so deeply and forge them in to something of beauty that you can admire for the remaining time you have on this blue marble. Do not let the fear of what may happen tomorrow stop you from filling your palms with stardust and stand tall in the face of fate. If no one will believe in those shoes you dug in turn your back and continue forward. No one person sees life the same and your view is just as gorgeous as the eyes that takes them in. Don’t let the insignificant suggestions of how you should carry on skew your path. If anyone can make it to the stars, my dear, it will be you.

The first steps you take from your small abode are in to the dulling afternoon. Blues and oranges mingle together in perfect harmony, leaving the sky a glorious purple. Littered among the clouds is a streak of gray fluff, like a painter took their brush and hastily made their way across the canvas. A storm is approaching with a carefree ease only nature can manage to maintain. Unlike the hurry of humans it comes and goes as it very well pleases. The mother has not one individual to answer to.

“Ah,” you groan as you stretch your tired muscles under the last rays of sunlight. The warmth rolls along your skin and leaves a line of goosebumps from the sudden change in temperature. Inside your home it was a fraction colder but the fresh rays felt comforting against your cheeks. It was nestling you to a feeling of contentment that at times seemed far too rare.

Today you have exploration in your heart. Your emotions rush to a giddy childlike sensation at the idea of moving in to the vast rolling forest just meters from your front door. So you take one last look at the graying sky and slip in to your comfiest rain boots. No one can take this feeling away from you right now, not even lingering thoughts of your long week. Despite the struggles you have faced there is still more to be seen and even more to be felt. You’ve decided to make this day all your own, at least what is left of it. Nothing can stop the feeling of gleeful urgency tingling down to your bones. It vibrates against your skin and tickles at your lips to keep them curved in to a gentle smile.

With a lightness in your step you take the first path before you with no real destination in mind. You need a reprieve from the toxic situations that currently plague your life, this small journey is just that. Take a deep breath and hold at the top. Good, you may release. Sigh it all away. The air carries with it a subtle scent of pine and the beginnings of rain. Such a familiar and comforting smell it is.

Ahead of you is a maze of maple and pines that stand almost as tall as the clouds themselves. The lasts of winter’s icy grip is fading, the snow is long gone and small blooms line your walk. Vibrant yellows, pinks, and greens fill your eyes with the delightful sight of fresh flowers. Their scent is mesmerizing and reminds you that you are home here in these woods. You have a cabin to return to but your heart is beating in and around this scene. In this place you are at peace for once. You are whole again. Under your boots a soft crunch of the needles and fallen leaves remind you that this too shall pass. Every season must come to an end for another to begin. Just as our sun will always orbit, you too shall carry on.

One foot in front of the other you make your way through the winding forest of old, the spirits of the trees dancing at the pending downfall. Their roots eager to soak up the nutrients they so needed after the bitterly dry winter. In those months you have faced so many hardships of your own that your roots too need something to grow. Plant them firmly throughout this beautiful land and remember that regardless of how deep the drought, water will come. Take a deep breath and hold at the top. Now release that heavy load weighing at your shoulders. Do you feel it? The rain, it comes like clockwork.

Down this path you decide to jump off what has already been beaten in to place and brave the more wild areas. Not even thorns can stop you now. This adventure was never meant to be taken by the safest route, you needed to carve your own path. So you take even more eager steps through the thick brush, gently moving winding vines from your way. Ahead of you a small deer takes its first wobbling steps and you feel yourself pause in awe of this moment. It is shaking but it gradually gains confidence to leap around its mother. Regardless of species, one could always overcome their trembling legs to find the joy they so deserved.

As you traverse further in you come to an open meadow, one you’ve not yet seen. If you hadn’t pushed yourself from the normal you might have missed the sight of this sprawling land. Lush grass rolls with the wind at the height of your hip, stained brown by the cold that remains. Still it thrives and sways. In this open space you see a fallen tree that has been eaten down by time. It lays before a babbling creek that pushes through the last shards of ice to continue its flow.

All around you the day is ending but small animals begin to wake and forage. Chattering birds sing their last piece for the afternoon. Squirrels jump from limb to limb collecting the budding acorns. The forest if alive with life and you, you’ve chosen to be part of that today. With just a hint of enthusiasm you made your way to this place and now you can marvel at the wonderful sights. Smell the trees. Feel the grass. Taste the water. All of this is for you to enjoy. A feast for your aching soul.

Taking another few steps you feel the first drops run down your cheeks and nose. They’re just a bit frigid but after your small journey you are thankful for the coolness atop all of the layers you’d taken on just in case. Drip, drip, drip. More begins to fall around you like the first stitches of a blanket it begins to take shape. Soon the rush would arrive but you won’t fight it. You will embrace this day you made your own.

So rather than run from it you take it in stride and make your way to the fallen tree. You carefully take a seat on what is left and watch the creek at your feet move forward with purpose. All around you the sounds of the storm rumble as the standing trees tremble under its caress. Your eyes barely pay them mind, your focus slowly on the passing of time. Small fish gather at the foaming edges. You even see a tiny turtle crawling up through the red clay mud to bask a little. The water is almost clear so you can see every bit of life that calls it home.

Laying back in to the grass you let the blades tickle your face and hands. The trees formed a circle around this safe little haven but still you could see through their tops top the sky. You close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. You release that in a sigh and flex your limbs to loosen up. What is coming next isn’t a surprise, you were excited to be part of this change. Whispers of droplets surround and before you know it, the forest is alive with a symphony of pelting beads.

The sky had spoken its last warning and now you were caught in the middle of its shower. Your gaze ambles about, taking in this concert mother earth was performing. It feels as if it was given to you for a reason. Take a deep breath and hold it at the top. Good, now release it to the storm.

At the ends of the pink hues darkness begins to creep in to the picture. It reminds you that you have had a lot on your mind of late. Things aren’t their best right now and your sun has been dwindling to the darkness. At the end of each night, however, there is daylight to be had. No amount of storms could snuff out the light that much is inevitable. No matter how much black painted the canvas of your heart, there was always another day to start fresh. One person holds many canvases within them and must decide what color to paint with each and every day. Much like the sky above you right now it could be all different shades mixing and mingling with one another. You can pick up your brush and start all over, take another path, and learn to love even the darkest of paintings.

You make this conclusion and sigh it all away. Not even something as grand as this show could stop time itself. You are safe here. Even if for a moment the heat of your own stars bubble to the surface and leave your skin feeling warm. In the grass you lay lazily and you allow yourself this moment. The beauty of a drought being ended is happening all around you. In your own experiences you let yourself be deprived of what keeps you alive. You are taking that back now. You are in charge. Let the rain pour in to you my dear.

The hum of crickets brings your attention back to this glorious moment. Your worries melt away to the ground and wash far away with the coursing water. Around you nature takes it course just like life. It does not pause for anyone, not even you. So you sit back and enjoy what it brings. This unique experience can only happen once and it is happening right now as the stars begin to glow brilliantly. It is a bit chilly but for now your mind is quiet. All around the animals of this forest tuck away as you soak it all in. For the first time in a long time you feel something other than dread, you feel alive.

From your fingers to your toes you are drenched but this doesn’t stop you. You stand with the smallest of smiles and begin to move to the music of the night. Your feet carry along clumsily as you spin and skip throughout this grand meadow. Inside you feel yourself welling up with emotions similar to earlier when you watched that young animal take its own first steps. The sensation of movement has your heart at peace. For what feels like hours you enjoy your evening to the fullest before turning to head home. Your heart is full, your body is tired.

You slow to a stop with a bit of a panting sigh and let the full night embrace you. Above you the sky is now a deep blue and is speckled with light. Each star serves its purpose in giving this Earth a little more light to look forward to. But as it grows late you know you must return. It is not with a heavy heart as you feel lighter than ever. While a bit drenched your pace is on air.

On the travel back you pick fresh flowers for the crystal vase that has sat empty for far too long. Spring has gifted you this, you mustn’t squander it. You chose a mix of colors to give your home the varied vibrancy that came only come once a year from under the snow. With a handful of beauty you make your way back to the place you call home. And what a lovely home you’ve made it.

As you arrive you know there is a fire waiting your return and a plush towel to wipe away the last of your adventure. With that in mind you enter and leave your worries to the elements. Those do not define this night. Tonight you have taken your fate in to your hands and made it your own. A happy one.

Drying off is a quick process so you curl up in front of the fire still burning in the hearth of your home. As it dwindles you add a few more logs to get through the night. Its flames dance just as you had, moving up the brick without so much as a care. Wrapping yourself up in a blanket you pulls your knees up to your chest and yawn deeply. Just like that. You release yourself to the warmth and settle in for the evening.

You can still hear the sounds of rain as you close your eyes for another night, drifting away to the chorus played on your roof. The muffled sounds are so relaxing that you are unable to fight the grip of sleep. It pulls you under and away you go to greet a beautiful dream of the memories you just made. You forged a new path and conquered a storm all on your own. Even with the heaviness that tried to take hold you fought it bravely. And won. Tonight as the rain falls around you in your home I wish you a restful sleep and joyful dreams. Sleep well, my dear.