the magic of forest rain

enjoying life's mini mysteries

i learned something magical on my morning walk today.

i leave the house at 6 am with no phone, no bra, and my sweatpants loose around my waist. the sidewalk is dark from the previous rainfall. i stare at the sky: it’s hazy purple horizon, colored by a pink hazy mist, and a pale yellow sun, bright like the wings of a newborn duckling. the humidity creating morning dew dripping down my t-shirt.

early mornings give me peace. i am reminded of who i am before the cars start vrooming, before the phone starts buzzing, and before the day demands anything from me.

there is a small park near my house called “goodrich woods.” inside there is a forest that is expansive and removed from the outside world. it is hidden off on the side of a busy road. the entrance is inconspicuous, found deep in the back of a gravel parking lot. a thin metal chain hangs to ward off potential growling motor vehicles.

i hear the rain before i see it. my yellow crocs crunch loudly against the gravel, like teeth chomping on captain crunch. i stop to listen to the gentle pattering of tiny droplets. i step slower and softer so i can listen to the symphony of rain falling from the trees.

the moment i enter inside this wooded paradise, i am transported into a nature oasis. tall and dense oak with wooly green leaves encapsulate me- reminding me that i may feel small but, i am connected to so much more. i forget that just moments ago i was surrounded by paved concrete and grocery stores.

as if frozen in time, even hours after the sky has stopped crying, it is still raining in the forest. forest rain is the aftermath of a heavy pour. the water from the leaves at the top of the trees, in their own time, trickle down and plop onto the leaves below. this slow matriculation of water creates a cascading effect that is so slow, so lovely, and so gentle that i could weep at the sound of pure tenderness. it is the sound of nature’s encore.

it is magic: standing in the goodrich woods, listening to the rain, while staying magically dry. i continue to walk through the forest in awe of the world’s serendipity. small moments like this remind me that beauty is everywhere as long as you keep your eyes and ears open. it’s in paying attention to the little joys that brings me closer to my higher power, my sense of creativity and connectedness.

next time it rains where you live, wait for the rain to stop, and then drive to your nearest forest. you will be in awe of the most gorgeous music you have ever heard.

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thanks for reading and letting me share this special joy with you all today.

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