Summer rain May01 '06

What is it about summer rain that is so soothing?

I’ve always loved rainy afternoons in the summer - the dark clouds, the impending downpour. The "cooling" of the warm air temperature. The sound of the raindrops hitting pavement, and the puddles it creates. The sound of rain hitting the car windshield, while driving. The windshield wipers working overtime.

Something about rain lighten’s moods - and makes people more relaxed.

But why?

Rain (and storms) are loud, sudden and sharp, and very unpleasant to walk or drive through. And too much rain can dampen not only clothes - but moods. Ask anyone living in a primarily rainy climate. The long-term effects of rain can be harmful, mentally.

So why the attraction to rain?

Here’s what I think:

Rain is good every once in a while - but not consistently. However, I’m not entirely sure where the soothing ends, and the mental effects begin.

Rain is soothing because it forces us to "break" from our regular daily routines, of rushing madly from place to place, and idea to idea.

It many cases, rain causes cancellations from outdoor activities. Even though we enjoy these outdoor activities, the possibility that a cancellation may occur gives us a gleeful sense of joy - just like little kids getting to skip baseball practice, and watch TV all afternoon.

Even when rain does not effect our activities - for example, indoor activities, such as work - we still feel like we get to "break" from things, simply because it’s raining outside. (In the back of our minds, we silently hope that the power goes out, so we can stop work entirely.)

Rain’s soothing sound forces us to pause and think about things - to reflect on the day.

Perhaps it’s these elements of nature that make us realize that we are simply tiny figures in this ever-changing atmosphere called Earth. In one motion, nature can "make or break" us. Rain is a sign of this power.

These are just my ideas. Maybe others have thoughts about rain, too.

Categories: Ponderings , Psychology , Weather

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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.