Whenever it rains, I think of something my stepmother liked to say during similar weather conditions, Modern Philosophers.
We’d be in the car, and from her throne aka the passenger seat, she would pass judgment on the world outside her window. If there was ever anybody out in the rain, she would say:
“Too much of a fool to come in out of the rain”…
Mind you, she had absolutely no knowledge of that person’s situation. Maybe they were walking to the bus stop and got caught in the storm. Perhaps they were chasing after a lost pet who slipped out the door and into the rain.
All she knew was that they were fools because they let themselves get wet.
And because I was an impressionable youth, I assumed that anyone who stayed outside in the rain was a fool.
That was definitely one of her Top 5 sayings. Other classics that still haunt me to this day are:
“Children should be seen, and not heard”…
And anytime I, a naturally inquisitive kid, would ask a question:
“Look it up yourself”…
It’s amazing I didn’t turn out a completely close-minded prick. I guess I am proof that a child can overcome his upbringing no matter how hard an adult tries to brainwash him.
But I digress.
Today’s post is about how I came to terms with being one of those fools who never comes in out of the rain.
I think my love of walking in the rain began as an act of rebellion against my stepmother. She never let me get away with much, so I probably started doing it once I went off to college.
I’ve never felt as free or as at peace as when I’m out in the rain.
I find it incredibly relaxing and conducive to plotting out story points in my head.
There is definitely a connection between my walks in the rain, and the first screenplay I wrote in college being about a mysterious killer who comes out of the rain.
Lately, though, I’ve come to realize that my love of being out in the rain is about more than rebelling against someone I haven’t seen since I was a teenager.
It hit me this morning, as I was out walking along the river in the rain. No one else goes out for a walk or a run when it’s raining. This means I have the streets to myself. This card carrying member of the Introverts Society can dodge raindrops and jump in puddles without having to worry about being interrupted by those annoying humans who always insist on being in the way of my solitude.
Maybe everyone else is sitting at their windows, and thinking me a fool for being out in the rain, but I’m totally okay with that.
I’d much rather have the world to myself, and prove how being close-minded can prevent you from really enjoying life…
What “words of wisdom” from your childhood still echo in your brain today?
The Return of the Modern Philosopher 
I love being out in the rain, and take my kinder classes out there too. we all love it
That’s the spirit!
We walked in the slight rain all holiday weekend, Austin, no harm, no foul. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Exactly!
My father told me anything worth doing is worth doing well, with your whole heart. He added, that necessarily means some things aren’t worth doing.
Very wise 🙂
“Do what I say, not what I do.” My mom’s way of saying, in retrospect, I expect you to be better than I. I still cringe when I hear others say it.
That’s a classic…
I love walks in the rain!! My mom always taught me to never cry in public, as if I should be ashamed of my sensitivity. I still hate it when people see me cry. I would never berate anyone else for showing their emotions, why should I be any different? It’s a struggle.
Moms are difficult…
To say the least! I don’t think any of us come out completely unscathed.