Is it raining where you are?

From the soft, misty drizzles of London to the raging monsoon rains of the Philippines, rain hits differently depending on your latitude. Huddled in a corner in the freezing rain or taking refuge at bus stops to escape being washed away by tropical typhoons, rain can be both beautiful and terrifyingly dangerous. (That being said, I love London rain. It is such a vibe.)

I've always been a pluviophile. I love the scent of petrichor, the static in the air that heralds the fresh outpouring of rain. Spattering on rooftops or whirling like diadems across the pavement, I tend to romanticize the way rain seems to wash our beings clean of urban weariness and ennui.

Rain-fed memories and feelings rise to the surface on days when heavy clouds and dark skies make us especially nostalgic or vulnerable. I find myself longing for happier days when rainy afternoons meant splashing in puddles or enjoying a hot, steaming bowl of Maggi beef instant noodles. On stormy days, one of my favorite childhood memories was building forts out of pillows and blankets, then tucking my ragdolls in to sleep.

Nowadays, rain elicits both delight and anxiety: delight for the relief it brings from sweltering summer days, but anxiety at the thought of flash floods and all the dangers that can come with it.

Perhaps that is what rain has taught me—that beauty and danger can sometimes arrive together, falling from the same darkened sky.

So, wherever you are, wherever the clouds have gathered—

may your rain be soft,

may your roof keep you dry,

may there be something warm waiting for you,

and may the storm always pass.

May rain always be gentle with you.