Right of Passage: Puddle Jumping

In my opinion, rain is a pretty fantastic thing. Of course there are some cons to rain, especially when it starts to really come down, but overall I really love it. Ever since I was little the sound of rain on my window has been able to put me right to sleep. I have a white noise app on my phone and the most played are the rain selections for when I can’t sleep. Rain also gives the area a clean slate, somewhere to start over from.

Kids these days are not known for being outside as much as we were when I was little. They are inside watching their screens instead of watching the rain make pathways down their windows. Thankfully my friend A. agrees with my valuing simple things, like the right of passage that is jumping in puddles. I have gotten several short videos of her two kids with the adorable rain boots and little raincoats, splashing away. They kick up muddy water, looking back at mom with giant grins on their faces.

Every kid can find joy in the simple things. It is when we grow up and get jaded, that the ability to just enjoy the little things in life becomes increasingly difficult. Things like running around in the yard on a sunny day, bubble wand in your hand, or building a sand castle at the beach and imagining the kingdom that you would rule over. These small joyful moments fade for us as we age, and I think that is such a shame.

When we have interactions with kids, as a parent, a friend, or maybe even as a family member, part of that inner child wakes up and remembers how much fun we used to have. I am always laughing when I get to play with my niece and nephew (A.’s kids). We get out the simple toys, like building blocks, and stuffed animals, then we let our imaginations go wild.

To the parents that are hesitating on sending their kids out into the rain, here is a little reassurance. Kids can be bathed, clothes can be washed, floors can be cleaned. They only have so long before they are jaded adults like us, so let them make those pure memories. Let the kids have their right of passage, enjoying the simple things in life, like rain coming down, and puddle jumping.

Positivity Shift

Now that the weather shifts in trend towards the warmer side of things, I have been truly loving just finding a pool of sunshine and parking myself in it with my book of the moment. I am lucky enough to have western facing windows in my bedroom. The afternoon sun comes in and creates nice warm rays across my bed. I will often find Erza lounging on my bed, soaking up the warmth.

Vitamin D has been proven to help lift your mood. Sunshine helps your body with the processing of vitamin D, so that means that laying in the sun, within reason, can have some pretty nice perks. With the warmer weather, that means more chances to get outside for your daily dose of sun.

I have been getting curious about what activities people are doing outside while we are still warming up. Here in Wisconsin, the water is certainly still way too cold for any fun to be had, so that means we need to find things to do on dry land. My family has already started the spring cleaning of our yard. Sunday afternoon was spent picking up sticks, raking the grass to lift the dead vegetation off, and cleaning up a winter’s worth of dog poop. The gardens have been left alone for now, to allow the new life a chance to get a solid start.

Green has become the color of the moment due to the sprouts that are peeking out from under the leftovers from last year’s garden occupants. My favorites are the daffodils, mostly because they pop up so early compared to the other flowers. Certainly doesn’t hurt that they are my favorite color, yellow. There is a small patch of them in one of our backyard gardens that I go out and cheer on every year. The one year that I forgot to get out there early, we only got one actual bloom from the bunch. So ever since I have been informing the daffodils that I believe in them and celebrate each bud that turns into a beautiful flower.

This time of year, as things begin anew, I try my best to embrace the positivity in the air. Time to renew a little bit of faith, and spend some time just soaking up the sunshine.