I believe that we should all be spending a moment in the rain. Thinking about one another, taking the time to reflect and throwing away all worries. I have always been told that standing in the rain washes away all the destructive thoughts and feelings that have been building up over time. Now no matter what I am doing, if it begins to rain, I stop and go outside to appreciate it, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Worry, doubt, sadness and many other things can weigh on a person. We have all dealt with these things and no one enjoys it. These feelings are necessary every once and awhile, but in the end, we have to let them go. Relaxation is key to keeping ourselves sane. Stress could arguably be mankind's biggest health issue. Stress can have many negative effects, mentally and physically. High blood pressure, ulcers and even heart attacks can be initiated by stress. When I am stressed, I have a hard time thinking and sleeping and usually, in the end, get a cold. I could go on forever about stress. I can definitely say that I am stressed at least once a day. How do I solve this problem?

I start out by trying to stay hydrated. Being dehydrated can cause stress, and I have definitely experienced that first hand. After I have my daily Nalgene intake, I try and think of what caused my stress in the first place. Was it when I accidentally burned my breakfast, or when I was late to work? Or was it when my dog shredded all my important papers? A combination of these events most likely pushed mine over the edge.

I tell myself that we all have bad days and there is no reason to stress over things that have already happened. As my mom used to say, “ Don’t cry over spilled milk.” She may have said this because I remember literally crying when I spilled my milk a couple of times. After hearing the phrase for many years, it has finally sunk in for me.

When the day has been too much, or you have writer's block and your paper is due tomorrow, relax. Sit down for five minutes and think about your absolute favorite place to be. I think about the rain and the pitter-patter on my roof as I watch the storm outside my window. I think about my family and friends and usually, that’s enough calm to help me soldier on. I can write my paper now or finish cleaning my apartment. I just need to take a moment to stand in the rain.