Smile
Got caught in the rain again! This time I was walking around the lake I skate around to cool off. I had a good skate session today too. Ended up skating 13 laps. I decided to do the 13th as kind of a reward or celebration of my skill, heh. I've been experimenting with eating energy bars about an hour before I skate so I can maintain my energy level. When I ended my 12th lap, my usual stopping point, I discovered I still had enough energy to probably do another set of 3 laps; but decided one would be enough.
I felt like a bullet coming down the main straightaway on my last, 13th lap. I'm definitely getting my arm swings down. The coolest part is that when I envision just being a kid frivolously enjoying an activity, all wrapped up in a happy blanket, I do my best. If you were to look at me skating you'd see a skater with superbly timed arm and leg motions -- yeah I'm so not being modest now, haha. But if you could peek into my mind you'd see a grown-up kid happily playing in a pile of autumn leaves. :) I don't know, it's just such a freeing feeling. Feels like flying sometimes. I even discovered in my "victory" lap that bullet-like feeling of speed: when everything is just so perfectly coordinated the wind rushing past me begins to sound like a vortex. It's too bad that experience only lasted for a few seconds. But...I discovered it today so I know it's possible to recreate it again.
When I finally stopped skating though and got ready for my cool-off walk I could hear thunder rumbling in the distance. It was actually still bright and sunny out, despite the clouds, so I didn't think it would rain while I was walking. But just to be safe this time I didn't carry my cell phone and put a towel on my car seat. The last time I went walking in the rain I drenched my car seat! Good thing I live in the South where it's hot as a... so it dried out the next day.
The part about storms I love the most isn't the rain but the wind before it. I love the wind. :) I mean, I really really do. So taking the opportunity to experience this wind was hard to pass up. The sun never really stayed covered up either the entire time I was walking and subsequently got rained on. I think that experience was pretty cool too. Just seeing the same scenery I've seen for years from a new perspective. Millions of little rain drops bouncing off the lake. The rain looked like rays of sunlight since the wind pushed the drops like dancing curtains.
Philosophically I think there's a lot to the imagery. Just how you can experience something the same way over and over, but a shift in perspective and that same situation suddenly looks entirely different. But not just a shift in perspective though, it's a choice too. Usually I'd flee from the rain, to be safe, but staying in it I saw the world in a different way from the way I'm used to. There's something here I feel, some great thought to discover... Hmm, I may have to meditate in the rain.