Is a few minutes of sunshine and a temperature above 47
degrees too much to ask? This was the question I wanted to shout out to the
cars barreling past me as I ran with Gunner in the pouring rain for the
umpteenth time last week. Back in November, running in the rain was somewhat of
a refreshing novelty. Now, it’s March, and running in the rain has made me feel
like WA is telling me the honeymoon is over!
Since arriving here a little over 3 years ago, the NW has
been on its best behavior, much like two teenagers in love. The temperatures have been mild the majority
of the year, yet kindly reminding me in summer of my island home for a very
short month or so, making the transition stateside a little easier. Until this winter, I haven’t felt the way
everyone told me I would about the rain, but WA has begun to show her true
colors, expressing the rainy reputation that follows her all over the world and
making the nickname, “Emerald City,” a reality!
Of course, the day after I was yelling about the cruelty and
unpredictability of nature, the temps rose to 52 degrees, and I had a dry run
with a sport or two of sunshine, but then it was back to rain, rain, and more
rain. When I left Kwajalein, I was so happy to be able to walk out my door with
my hair down and without feeling immediately like I needed to go back inside to
take a shower because I was already wind-blown and sweaty, and now, it’s the cold
rain bringing me down. The stubborn, prideful part of me never thought I’d say
that or even actually feel that way. So, it just goes to prove that old adage,
the grass is not always greener on the other side. Well, it is actually ALWAYS
greener in the Evergreen State of WA, but metaphorically speaking, not so
much.
The one thing living overseas on an isolated, tropical
island in the middle of the sea taught me is that you can choose to allow your
circumstances to dictate your attitude about life OR you can choose to change
your perspective and find contentment in EVERY circumstance, so even though WA
and I have suffered a few honeymoon woes this winter, I was still able to pull
some nuggets of golden life lessons out of those long, wet runs with my
spoiled, energizer bunny chasing dog. (Or at least I am reminded of the life
lessons I tend to forget when I am cold, wet, and trying desperately to dodge
the pond like puddles blocking the path while I run.)
What I’ve Learned:
·
Nature is
always a cure for whatever is ailing you. After a long day cooped up inside
at work, then a long drive in I-5 traffic home, getting outside, even in the
rain, is refreshing and relaxing. I may drag my feet and grumble as Gunner
pulls me out the door, but I am always content when we arrive home.
·
Beauty
and opportunity are literally around every new bend, state, job, home, etc...It
was easy to see it at all this at first because I lived in such a small world
for so long, so everything was filled with beautiful new promise. Now, after three
years in a much bigger world, I can say that WA has a way of making you
continue to appreciate the sunshine on the road and stunning views all around
of the sound and the mountains because of the months of clouds and rain, not in
spite of it. Mt. Rainer doesn’t let you
take her for granted by showing her magnificence every day. And with these
attractions so close and the abundance of activities in this state, we have
still not exhausted all the family adventures on my list of “things to do in
WA.”
·
It’s not
easy being green, but it sure is pretty! I always loved going to Hawaii
because even though it usually rained at least once a day there, it was a warm,
soft rain, and it kept everything so lush and green. Well, it’s similar here.
The rain is what makes the rainforests so uniquely mossy and what makes running
outside year round more palatable. I had forgotten how brown other states get
in the winter until going back to AL for Christmas. I was shocked by the
barrenness of the South in the winter, and immediately realized it was because
I rarely see that here in the NW. It’s always green!
·
Life is
better when lived in the moment. I can’t say I never pine for the long days
of summer with perfect camping weather, but it does teach me to live in the
moment.
As my husband so aptly reminded me
the other day, in a few months, you’ll be longing for the rain again because it
will be so dry. He’s right, I will, so I
think it’s better to enjoy today as is.
In fact, I really need to get off the computer now and head outside
because guess what, the sun is out!! And the weather app on my phone says after
today, it’s going to rain straight through from now until Tuesday after next.
