When you grow up in a country where it only rains a few months of the year, you typically learn to love the rain. Florida is a bit more generous with the rain than my home country. Unlike Seattle where it drizzles constantly, Florida will produce afternoon showers almost every other day. Rain can get old and boring fast. And it does quite reliably among most Floridians.

I went walking in the rain this morning. It was drizzling when I woke up, so the morning ritual of walking Olive around the block was out of question. I changed into my swimming shorts and an old cotton t-shirt, put on my hiking hat to keep the water out of my eyes and took off in the rain.

I walked a block to the lake which was quite full. The lake looks completely different in the rain. Quite different. As I was watching the otherwise calm surface riddled with rain, the droplets started sweeping across the surface in gentle arcs. The wind had picked up. My t-shirt was almost completely drenched. The rain started pouring strongly, shifting slightly in angle and intensity. A lightning flashed and it thundered just as I turned around to head back home. I was walking into the rain this time and it was cold. The water was cold and the t-shirt against my skin was cold.

I came home refreshed. Like one does jumping into a cold swimming pool first thing in the morning, a-la Tony Robbins.

You should try it.