Primal Pleasures
I've been wanting to write this post for a while, but it's never felt right until now.
I went out to a different park today than the one I skate around because they have this annual festival there this time of year. I just wanted to walk and think about stuff, a typical pastime for me. I always go barefoot as well. As soon as I got out of my parked car I looked up at the sky and heard thunder off in the distance. The clouds looked a heavy rain-soaked blue as it was, but the thunder was the tipoff that rain was a comin'. The post that I had been wanting to write was about just this moment, what was about to happen.
As I was walking around the track I must've been about a quarter of a mile around when I felt the first raindrop hit my skin. The frequency increased until I was officially being rained on. I was near a grove of trees so I was protected for a while, but I kept walking. I had been wanting to experience walking in the rain again for a while. There's just something magical about not giving in to civilized behavior and doing what you're not supposed to be doing.
Not having my glasses or shoes on made the experience much more enjoyable, I had less to worry about. I felt even more a part of nature. The rain hitting my skin, bouncing off my head, my feet feeling the warm wet ground. I felt more connected to the environment than I otherwise feel. I felt happy. Just putting myself out in the storm, soaking up the experience, not running away. Perspective plays so much a part of experiences. Instead of fretting about my clothes getting wet, or rain falling into my eyes, or maybe catching a cold or something I looked at the moment as something to enjoy. It's what my heart wanted to experience. It's amazing how a singular experience can have such divergent viewpoints.
I couldn't help but smile as the rain was trickling down my body, making my shirt stick to my body. As the track led me to the entrance cars were racing to leave the park. I wonder what they must've thought to themselves when they saw me. "Look at the poor guy stuck in the rain." "Look at that idiot walking in the rain, with no shoes on!" "Wow, that's a cool idea, I'm gonna walk barefoot in the rain too!" I had to cross the road at one point and there was only one car left and they stopped to let me pass. I waved a thank you gesture at them, still smiling. Even in situations that would typically be viewed as unfavorable it's only perspective that keeps a smile at bay.
After I crossed the road the rain started to pick up. It felt like bullets hitting my skin; the rain can sting. Some of the banners the city had out promoting the festival at the other park were flapping wildly in the wind. I could see the rain changing directions: first stinging my neck and then my cheeks, and finally back down on my head. I have to admit I felt really alive then. I wasn't prepared for that, wasn't prepared for the rain to hurt, not prepared for it to feel cold at times. But it's what I wanted. I gasped at times at the unexpected strength of the downpour. Suddenly there were little impromptu rivers I was walking in. Ha! I'm alive!!
By the time I got to the end of the track my shirt and shorts were thoroughly stuck to my skin. I had been listening to music on my cell phone the entire time but decided it might be better to take my earbuds out. I actually think it was better keeping them in since they kept the rain from getting into my ears. I had flower petals stuck to me that had been blown in the wind. I must've looked like a wet, ragged dog; but I was happy. :)