A Little Fall of Rain

Stormy weather is hitting the Golden State and showers are in effect across Los Angeles. It's the first real rain I've seen since relocating to sunny SoCal. In a way, it makes me feel closer to home - closer to the damp autumns seen in the San Francisco area. I miss it. This time last year, I was constantly in the city every week. San Francisco is so beautiful in the fall.

I've always despised the rain - until now. I'm not exactly a huge fan of the cold or the wind or the wetness. I prefer the sun, but who doesn't? The rain can be so depressing sometimes. That's the key word - can. Really, the rain is whatever you make of it. Make the best of it.

Tuesdays are the days I usually run all of my errands. Groceries. Mail. Prescriptions. You get the point. This particular Tuesday, I had to return something at the Apple Store in Santa Monica. The whole return process took about 5 minutes - but I have a crush on Santa Monica so I didn't just want to leave so soon after arriving. I shopped around. Walked all along the 3rd street promenade. It wasn't enough.

The streets of Santa Monica were somewhat empty, most likely due to the weather. I found that this vacancy gave me the opportunity to enjoy the location in solitude and self-reflection. So naturally, I went for a walk. I'm not really that crazy for wanting to walk in the rain. It's just a little water. A little spontaneity. It's always good to do something spontaneous and original every once in a while - it keeps you, well, you. My destination was set: the end of the Santa Monica Pier.

I was one of the only people walking to the pier, everyone seemed to be leaving. As I passed the deserted rides and cafes, it began to pour - it was magnificent. Everyone had their umbrellas or ponchos or hooded windbreakers - and if they didn't, they were running for cover. That is, everyone except me. I was soaked and it was uncomfortable at first, but I couldn't just stop and give up and turn around like the rest of them. I walked to the end. I walked to the very end of the pier and I stopped and watched the ocean. Talk about self-discovery. Self-discovery I can't even describe in detail. Stormy sky and waters seem depressing and angry to so many people, but this was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. I felt each drop of rain on my face and I stood there and took it in and reveled in how amazing it is to be alive, to witness the artistry of nature, to feel rain. There is always beauty and life in every storm, we just have to look for it.

It made me think, what kind of person will I be when it rains? Will I run for cover and complain about it, or will I dance in it? Valuing life isn't only about appreciating the good times and the sunshine, but it is about seeing the good that comes from the storm and running with it.

You've gotta have rain to make a rainbow...

Without rain, nothing would grow.

Cruel to Be Kind?

August is approaching fast, and I can't help but wonder what happened to summer. Although this is easily the shortest summer I have ever experienced, it has been one of the most personally educational. I'd like to think of myself as somewhat of an optimist - reminding myself of the Law of Attraction and smiling no matter how I'm feeling. Unfortunately, this has been an incredibly difficult task over the past month due to the fact that I have discovered what truly horrible creatures human beings can be. Truly horrible.

Cruelty just seems to be in human nature, it's nothing new. The opening scene of the 1970's horror flick "Carrie" makes this terribly apparent. A young Carrie White, played by Sissy Spacek, begins her period in the girls' locker room while showering. Raised in an extremely religious household, Carrie was never educated on sex or the body and thinks there is something horribly wrong with her when she sees the menstruation. She screams and runs to her classmates for help, but instead of setting Carrie straight on what is happening to her body, they berate her, tease her, and throw a plethora of feminine products at her while backing her into a corner. It's possibly one of the cruelest scenes I've ever seen.

The clip from "Carrie" is just one example of most human beings lack of understanding. So often, we fail to see the other side of the story - we fail to try and understand or even care. In our selfish existence, how often do we stop to take a step back and look at the entire situation? Why is it always so important that every situation is taken personally and blown out of proportion? There are more important things in life.

Throughout the film, few characters attempt to help Carrie and her situation. Unfortunately, their efforts go practically unnoticed - overshadowed by the merciless acts put on by her atrocious classmates. Carrie eventually, and famously, takes revenge on every person in her life using telekinesis. Sure, the revenge she puts forth is awful, but does Carrie really know any better? In my opinion, this vengeance is an example of "what not to do." Retaliation fuels the fire, and most often makes things worse rather than better.

The solution is simple - hakuna matata. In a loose translation of swahili, it actually does mean "no worries." People need to learn to let things go and live life. Carpe Diem. Now, I am going to let it all go, live my life and enjoy the rest of my summer. :-)