Living near Portland, Oregon, I’ve gotten pretty used to the weather. For many months out of the year it rains almost daily, while the sky remains a neutral gray for weeks on end.
Many people would think this weather could have a draining effect on a person—make them as gloomy as it appears to be outside.
Interestingly enough, I find it has the opposite effect.
Yes, rain, fog, wind and dampness can seem gloomy, but these are also the vital pieces of an adventure puzzle.
You see, you can’t have perfect weather all the time and consider it an adventure. If everything was bright, sunny and “perfect” all the time, would it really be perfect?
I believe every adventure has at least one aspect that other people would consider horrible, one that you turn around into a positive, the one that becomes the moment you look back on with joy. The would-be obstacle overcome. The pitfall that became a ladder.
That’s why I look at rain with joy. The drops that come filtering through the forest make the ground smell like adventure.
It’s been incredibly sunny the last few weeks. I’ve enjoyed it. Bright sunshine can be wonderful. I spent some time in the water, some time on cliffs, some time exploring and some time cursing the lack sufficient dynamic range to cover the spectrum of a brightly lit day.
But yesterday when the clouds rolled in, the mist came up and the sky let loose, that’s when I really got excited.
Rain — an adventure in every drop and drizzle.
