Rain and Renewal
We just had a bout of rain come to Southern California, and, boy, do we need it. According to the Washington Post, California is experiencing the driest year on record. And farmers who have been subsidized for years now find it difficult to even meet the demands of some crops with the current amounts of irrigation provided.
So, like me, I am sure many others welcome the rain’s refreshing and renewing qualities. A rainfall can imbue our environment with new life and vitality. Plus, there is truly something to be said about the rain that can feel so liberating and calming; a cherished feeling of freedom for the mind and peace to the soul.
I recall that in my college days I would happily sing and play in the rain. Others thought I was out of my mind, but I didn’t care. I was present and merrily dancing along like the actors in the movie “Singin’ in the Rain.” I can still vividly remember the water washing over me and instilling that sense of calm and vitality that only Mother Nature can provide. There was one time, however, when I awoke to the sound of rainfall and walked out of my dorm to find only a casting crew simulating rain for a scene in “Forrest Gump.”As accustomed as I had been to California’s prolonged dry spell, what a bummer it was to discover I couldn’t play!
Like California, I’ve experienced my own personal drought of creativity and inspiration. I felt starved for any ideas and was withering away as they eluded me year after year. There wasn’t much verve to speak of, and chronic stress began to not only stunt my emotional and spiritual growth, but it affected my physical well-being. That stage of my life was arid and lackluster and my spirit started to wilt. I knew I needed some means to rid me of this creative famine.
Then spontaneously, like life that seeks to expand itself, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique came like the rain and gave me such a natural and effortless way to restore vitality. This experience of renewal and awakening was akin to Mother Nature at her very best—delivering April showers to bring May flowers — that with the right nourishment, even what appears barren will magically spring back to life (both literally and figuratively).
I started experiencing calm within and creativity flourished with the elimination of stress and its related emotions of fear, anxiety, frustration, and worries. I was gently liberated from the incessant mind chatter and felt really free for the first time. What replaced the noise was a tremendous feeling of love and peace—and a silent source of possibilities. I know now, after years of regular daily meditation, the growth that comes from TM can be as astounding as it is natural, much like the wonderment of rainfall!
About the Author
Jess Ly is a Life Coach in Orange County, California.
