The paper boat...
VALUEOLOGICAL
When we were kids, rain meant play and fun time. I have mostly lived in a region where rain was quite seasonal, mainly during monsoons. I remember whenever it rained, we ought to be outside playing in the rain, bathing in the rain, making paper boats and putting them in small puddles of water and see how far our boats moved. All the kids in the neighbourhood were either on their terraces or in the streets. So, rain was associated with fun, may be because it was seasonal so it was valued more than places where it rains all year round. Also, chai-pakoda is common during rains. Pakodas in rain are just super yummy!
But, nowadays rain somehow is not associated with fun & frolic but more with traffic, chaos and water logging. Rain is the same, then what has changed? Now we don’t see as many kids enjoying the rain. But why? Maybe the mindset has changed or maybe we don’t allow our kids to get wet in the rain fearing they may fall sick. In becoming protective we don’t let them enjoy these beautiful moments. That is why kids are not seen outside during rain, now even for a little bit. Have we simply forgotten to enjoy the simple natural things. Not able to enjoy the rain in winters or cold is understandable but missing natural rain showers being at home during summers is simply boring.
No doubt water logging and traffic become a problem but that is not the fault of rains but poor planning, infrastructure issues and poor water management and we lose so much precious rain water. These issues are all human creation. Rain is essential everywhere.
When my kid was just 2-3 years old it was raining one day and I noticed a small puddle of water on the internal road near our house. And it crossed my mind why don’t I show him how to make a paper boat and put it in the puddle and see how far it goes? Making the paper boat was bit of an effort since it was years I had made one, with some help I was able to make one. Then I took my kid to the puddle to play with the paper boat. The amusing look on his face was rewarding for me! Next time it rained I realized I need to show my toddler to enjoy and bathe in the rain. So, both of us enjoyed the rain and I still remember it clearly after so many years. Thereafter whenever there was time and rain, he was inclined to venture outside, not every time though.
Return to your paper boats and also teach your kids to make one, this will bring you and them near to the nature, outdoors and away from the screens. We really don’t have to always go for a vacation to spend quality time in nature and with each other; we have to just focus and capture the little moments around us.
Even now when it rains heavily and if all of us are free, we make it a point to at least take a natural rain shower, it may be just twice or thrice in a year but we make sure to enjoy it. Let us bring out the child within us! And trust me that a natural rain water shower beats any shower in the world. In theme parks and resorts they organize rain shower / rain dance etc., and when there is a natural rain shower, we give it a miss.
Try to collect some rain water in buckets on your terraces and balconies and used it for mopping or watering plants after 1-2 days when there is no rain and save some water too.
Rain inspires me a lot, I just like to look at the rain, observe the falling rain, rain droplets sliding on the leaves and plants. Everything seems so clear and clean after a good rain. The green of the plants during and immediately after the rains is so bright that I do not find it any other time during the year. Couple of hours of good rain brings temperature down by few degrees even on a hot summer day and makes it pleasant. There is something about watching the rain. Even in the offices people who did not had desks near the window or glazing, all used to rush towards the windows / glazing just to watch the rain, even for a few minutes. Hope you are not sitting with your back towards the rain when you can simply turn around, pause, look and steal some beautiful rain moments even being indoors or in offices.
The rain shower is just so refreshing, it cools you to your core and gives you respite from the summer heat, yet we are not ready to embrace it. Whenever it used to rain heavily and I was in the office, I used to always think this is worth a rain shower and miss being not at home to enjoy it. This time thankfully I had the time to enjoy couple of rain showers and made most of it! Chai-pakoda on couple of occasions during the monsoons add to the charm of the rain. Embrace the rain, embrace the nature and enjoy small gifts of nature whole heartedly!! Try it you will love it!
