Hangin’ around
Nothin’ to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always bring me down
Lyrics from Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters
If you are from my generation, you will definitely remember this song by The Carpenters and I’ve included the link HERE if you would like to take a listen.
This song came to mind when I saw this week’s #SundayStills prompt – Rainy Day and I started to think about why Rainy Days make us feel down when we could still make the best of them. There are plenty of times when rainy days could certainly ruin your day. I know I’ve certainly let the cloud settle over my life when things aren’t going well. Those ‘rainy days’ can certainly affect your mood and motivation.
For me, I love a stormy sky, the energy of a storm and rain but I also like to enjoy the view from a safe place, snuggled inside with a cup of tea and a good book.
My husband and I love to travel (COVID of course has put this passion on Pause for a while) and there have been times when we could have been disappointed because the weather hasn’t been kind.
I also know that SaD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is real and has is now known as Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern
Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, also referred to as winter or seasonal depression, is a syndrome with depression that starts and ends at the same time each year.
So I’m not downplaying the mental affects that rain and wintery months can have and if you do feel that you need help there is always someone or organisations to reach out to for help. In Australia that would be Lifeline 13 11 14.
Many of my friends have been in lockdown due to COVID for a year and this has been so challenging for them. But they have proven their resilience and refuse to allow the COVID ‘rainy days’ to bring them down. I’ve learned so much from my inspiring friends who have reminded me that:
You have a choice – you can make the best of the day or you can be disappointed and let the ‘weather of life’ spoil your day. Which will you choose?
What’s good about Rainy Days? I’ve come up with 10 reasons, can you add to them?
- Jumping In Puddles
- Snuggling up and reading a good book
- Walking along the beach
- A hot shower after a run or walk in the rain
- Rain can mean the breaking of a drought or relief for the firefighters fighting Bushfires. It means breaking the anxiety, stress and destruction drought and bushfires bring. In Australia’s drought affected areas or during Bushfire season, people pray for rain and rejoice when the rains come.
- Rainy days bring water to our gardens and wildlife
- Rainbows
- Bright yellow raincoats and coloured umbrellas
- Baking – don’t you just love the smell of freshly baked bread?
- The opportunity to catch up on binge-watching our favourite series on Netflix
Have you had a rainy day spoil your day or did you just go ahead and make it happen?
Have you allowed life’s challenges to stop you from achieving a life you want?
Thanks to Terri from Second Wind Leisure for challenging me again with this week’s #SundayStills prompt. Perhaps you would like to visit and see how other’s have interpreted the prompt.
Enjoying #SundayStills? Why not check out posts from these bloggers? And if you would like to join in, we would love to have you. The community is awesome. You can get more details here.
- Always Write
- And Anyways
- Artistic Pension
- Beautiful Photographs
- Bushboy’s World
- Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
- Cee’s Photo Challenges
- A Day in the Life
- Deb’s World
- Denyse Whelan Blogs
- Easin’ Along
- EquipoiseLife
- Frost on the Moose Dung
- Geriatrix Fotogallerie
- Graham’s Island
- Hugh’s Views and News
- Jacquie Biggar Author
- Kamerapromenader
- LifeLessons
- Light Write Life
- Musin’ With Susan
- Natalie the Explorer
- Now At Home
- Photos By Jez
- Pictures Without Film
- Priorhouse Blog
- Retirement Reflections
- Second Wind Leisure Perspectives (the host)
- Sustainabilitea
- The Bloggler
- The Day After
- The Unretired Life
- Travel with Me
- Troyers Loving Life
- Wandering Dawgs
- Women Living Well After 50
- Woolley Muses
24 Comments
Hi, Sue – I love the benefits of rain that you have shared here — especially jumping in puddles! Here are a couple more rain-benefits that I know of:
• Rain helps purify the air
• We build more muscle and burn more calories working out in the rain. …
• Researchers have found that chemicals released from rain can help relieve stress.
• Running in the rain can increase both performance and metabolism!
Thank you for the mention. I greatly appreciate it!
Hi Donna, great tips to add to my list, thank you. What is better than jumping in puddles? Just ask Deb! x
I’m a huge Carpenters fan Sue so I now have Rainy Days and Mondays going through my head! I think two of my favourite things about rainy days is when they break a long hot spell (and the smell in the air afterwards) and being inside listening to the rain pouring down while you’re all snug and dry. xx
Yes I love the smell of the rain – you can actually smell it can’t you? x
Hi Sue, I’m so glad you mentioned SAD in this post, as I am affected by the lack of light, too. When I created the theme, I also had the Carpenter’s song in my head too, so I’m glad you included it in your post. My only issues with rainy days are wet streets that turn drivers into idiots, and constantly wiping wet dog paws before they come into the house! Like I commented to Donna, I enjoy rainy days enough to where I have multiple raincoats, too! I’m always appreciative of your thoughtful interpretations of the SS themes, Sue! Have a wonderful week.
Hi Terri, I thought of you when I wrote about SAD because I remembers you were affected and had mentioned it a couple of years ago in another post. I’m loving #SundayStills and so pleased I’ve joined up. x
I love your quotes and travel memories here Sue and of course my favourite bit is the jumping in puddles! The song is perfect for your post too. Another great example of using the prompt to fit into your blog’s core value, you really are getting very good at this!! I always smile at the photo of you and Donna 🙂
Hi Deb, I love the photo of Donna and I as I love the photos of you and I together and of course, now Jo. Photos are a lovely way to remember. x
There’s an interesting study out of Norway – they look forward to the winter season and still have outdoor activities in the cold so their SAD figures are lower than in the US and Canada. (that’s a very brief summary, there’s a lot to it). And in Finland, the short daylight hours (sometimes just 3-4 make little difference to their routine so again, less of an issue there. They whack up some fairy lights and continue as usual.
Oh that is interesting Lydia and it shows that if we are creative we can come up with ideas to overcome most things in life. Fairy lights – who wouldn’t feel good with them burning brightly. x
I tend to make it happen! Sometimes the ‘it’ varies in productiveness, but I love a rainy day. Love your photos, no matter how old and cynical I get I can’t resist a rainbow. 😉
Hi Melissa, yes Rainbows make everyone feel hopeful I think. xx
Definitely no rainbow without the rain. I don’t mind the rain – if I’m inside and tucked away. It’s very dry here at the moment so our lawns are brown and dead so some rain would be nice.
I was interested to read Lydia’s comment about about Norway. I think it’s true that sometimes a place is ‘built’ to cater for the climate etc. I lived in Canberra for a couple of years and probably felt the cold less there than in Queensland, because everything’s heated and caters for that weather. Here we’re less prepared.
Hi Deb yes I was interested in Lydia’s comments too. As I said to her who doesn’t love a Fairy Light!
I’ve always loved rainy days. I don’t like driving in the rain but I love being home all cozy on a rainy day and I love the sound of rain. Have a nice week!
I don’t like driving in the rain Min and during Luisa’s illness we were caught on the M1 in torrential rain. That was scary! x
Hi Sue, I love the rain. The garden springs to life after a good downpour. We have a rain gauge and record every drop! We visited Tokyo Disney on a very wet day but we were happy because it kept the crowds down. I never let it put me off doing anything! Have a lovely week, Christina
Hi Christina, I love looking at the garden after the rain. You can almost see it growing! Have a lovely week and thanks for visiting. x
Hi Sue, I have fond memories of The Carpenters. Their beautiful music ingrained forever in my mind. You share stunning photos! I love how many of them include a rainbow – always a metaphor for life. I especially like the one of you and Donna, and you and your husband. ❤️I wholeheartedly agree with all of your ten reasons to love rainy days. I love the rain! I have pouring rain as my white noise to help me sleep.xx
Hi Erica, yes The Carpenters video brought back some memories. I don’t often see rainbows so when I do, I try to capture them. Rachel uses the rain white noise for the boys and they sleep so well. Sending hugs to you at this time. xx
I love this blog, Sue. Living in England one can’t afford to stay indoors on rainy days! But it rarely rains “properly” here like it would after a very hot and sticky day in Brisbane when I was a kid. I love a heavy thunderstorm to remind me of those happy days. Rain definitely clears the air and makes way for sunshine ahead.
Thanks Sue-Anne, do you miss the Aussie sunshine or are you happy to not have the humidity? x
What a great approach you have taken with Sunday Stills and developed it into such a kind and helpful post. I loved your shot with M in the snow! Go Aussies. I admit rainy days are good but after maybe two, then I get a need to be outside and I will, if it is safe, go for a drive. Hate getting wet but maybe for a photo I will.
Thanks so much for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, we are #11 and the optional prompt is Floral. Hope to see you there and in the meantime, may you be well, may you be safe and may you be content. Denyse.
Hi Denyse, I’m trying to incorporate #SundayStills with my blog’s philosophy and ethos. So far, so good. x