Do you remember that nursery rhyme you sang in kindergarten about rain? 

“Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.” 

Why do people despise rain? Why do people think rain is depressing? Do people think rain ruins their day? Let’s talk about the connotations of rain. 

Does it make you sad, depressed, relaxed, or happy? 

Falling rain creates a sound that makes people feel sleepy. Researchers and psychologists call it “pink noise.” Weird name, right? The sound of rain is a natural sedative to help activate the mind and block out other sensory input like sirens, trains— anything that might keep the mind from relaxing. Studies have shown that when the sound of rain enters the person’s brain, the brain subconsciously relaxes and produces alpha waves, which are very close to the state of the brain when people sleep. For some people, the noise is not upsetting. On the contrary, the sounds make people comfortable. But for some people, the sounds do make them uncomfortable.

Additionally, some people find rain sad. This emotional state is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  If you feel down during a downpour, it’s not your imagination. Bad weather can indeed have a negative effect on your feelings and emotions. Scientists found out that 9% of people hate rain because it causes feelings of anger, gloominess, and unhappiness. 

In my opinion, I love rain! Whenever I go outside in the rain, I tune into my senses and enjoy the feeling of wet drops on my face and the salty taste in my mouth. Even if I get sick and get a cold, the rainy days give me an uplifting feeling. But I didn’t always like the rain. When I was five years old, thunderstorms made me scared. I curled up my small body trying to find comfort under my blankets in my bed and hanging tightly to my pink teddy bear. I hated hearing the echoing sounds of the heavy, dense rain pouring over the roof. I’ve always thought the sky was angry when the pounding rain grew louder and louder. I was a small child back then. But I realized that as I grew up, I started to enjoy the rain. Every night when I’m ready to go to bed, I use my Amazon Alexa and ask “Hey Alexa, play rain sounds”, Yes, it might sound cheesy, but this helped me relax and sleep every night. Even when I’m studying, real rain sounds are the best sound ever. Why? To me, rain is non-threatening, it’s the best way to focus on my learning, homework, and reading. It helps calm my anxiety. Rain also brings out my inner creativity. It helps me live in the moment and brings up my level of happiness and confidence. I guess you can say I’m a person who loves rainy days. 

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