Before I moved to Los Angeles, I had no idea how much I’d come to appreciate a good storm. And if you’re anything like me, you know exactly what I mean. LA, of course, is that picture-perfect city: sunny, 75 degrees, all year round. It sounds like a dream, and in a lot of ways it is. But all that sunshine has a flip side you don’t really notice until you’re living it.
For people like me, the sun has a way of making you feel like you have to be on: productive, outside, active, or social. Every single day is a beautiful day, which means every single day feels like an invitation to do something. And in a city like LA, where everyone’s chasing something, where the energy never really stops, that constant sunshine almost becomes part of the hustle culture. You’re always on the go, because why wouldn’t you be? The weather is perfect. You should be out there living your best life.
Then I moved to Spain. And wouldn’t you know it, I ended up in Alicante, which is technically considered the sunniest city in Spain. Imagine that! I traded one sun-drenched city for another; the universe is clearly testing me. And even when it did rain in Alicante, it would “rain” for about fifteen minutes, and then the sun would pop right back out, like nothing ever happened. A quick little tease of rain, and then straight back to business.
I remember coming home (US), sitting on my front porch, and just attempting to immerse myself in the stormy weather. Listening to the rain and watching the wind move through the trees. Almost trying to be outside while all of it was happening, because I was genuinely fascinated. It had been so long since I’d actually experienced a storm that I couldn’t look away.
Here’s the thing I’ve come to realize: if you’re anything like me, you love a good rainy, stormy day because it reminds you that you need to slow down. There’s nothing quite like the rain tapping in the background while you put on Twilight, with a couple of candles burning. No pressure to be productive and no guilt about staying in.
And look, I can appreciate some sun. I really can. Living abroad teaches you so many things, and one of them is balance. After a week or two of straight sunshine, sure, give me the beach. But give me the cloudy, dreary, possibly rainy day too, because that’s my rest day. That’s my reset.
So here’s to the gray skies, the rain on the window, and the wind that tells you to slow down. Some people chase the sun. I’ve learned to love the days it hides.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
