Have a Little Wind With Your Rain?

Here in Edmonds, it has been raining off and on since we moved into our new home. Of course we moved in last October so it's the time of year for rain in this part our country.

 Yesterday morning my little dog and I waited for a lull in the heavy rain before starting our morning walk. When we leave our condo, there is a covered walkway that leads to the entry gate. When Kuro hears rain spattering on the guest parking lot, he decides whether the call of nature is strong enough to counterbalance his dislike of getting rained on.

In this case, it was our first walk of the day so his desire to relieve himself was stronger than his desire to stay dry so we set off. I was wearing waterproof shoes and a good rain jacket but my jeans were a weak point as was my floppy Tilley hat.

If you live in northern Washington, west of the Cascades, you may recall that the wind was huffing and puffing yesterday. Kuro's beard was flying and my jeans and hat were soon damp.

We walked through the woods in Edmonds Park. The wind was was adding to the light rain by shaking the trees and sending big water drops down on us. Kuro usually keeps his nose pointed down to pick up strange scents but he sensed something different and looked up a couple times trying to find who was sprinkling water on him.

As we walked I thought about taking photos that would show what I'm trying to describe. Decided I need more skill than I have to picture the rain and wind. Maybe some things are best left to the imagination. Even Snoopy had more success with the written word than photographs when he started his novel (many times), "It was a dark and story night."

we did find a couple photo-worthy scenes.

A couple weeks ago I noticed this early-flowering ornamental tree
displaying open flowers near the tips of some branches, now it's
almost completely in bloom.

Not far away we spotted these mushrooms having a morning drink
while fretting about the weather.

Back home, Kuro quickly found a warm spot in front of the fire to dry off and get warm.

After a walk this windy, rainy morning, I decided I need to add a good pair of rain pants to my walking kit. Some days a walk in the rain is bracing but some days it's just plain wet and cold. 

Kindness

Kindness is rooted in Old English words for family, kin and tribe.

I think it is a product of the days when feelings of kindness were reserved for members of one's own family or tribe. All others were outsiders and foreigners, suspect and feared until proven otherwise. Such feelings were necessary when residents of the cave on the other side of the valley were likely to steal your food, or your woman, if given the chance. Strangers were suspicious and certainly were not shown kindness since that would risk one's own best interests.

As the world has grown smaller, the need to think of strangers or different people as threatening has also grown smaller. Yet that instinct is still with us and is hard to overcome. It's easier to fall back on instinct and prejudice and treat someone from a different race, culture or country as suspect. Our guard goes up quickly. Kindness is a last resort when faced with the scary outsider.

Yet, the way we think of our family and close friends is the way we should think of the rest of our brothers and sisters in the whole human race. In my travels throughout the world I've found that regular people are the same everywhere. The politicians and rulers may be different but people are the same and deserve our kindness.

The Golden Rule applies to kindness just as it does to other forms of human interaction. Treat others with kindness just as you would like to be treated kindly.

Kindness goes deeper than politeness or courtesy but encompasses both. We can show kindness by returning the shopping cart someone else left running wild in the parking lot. Make an extra effort to show kindness to the aggressive driver or the single driver taking advantage of HOV bypass lanes at freeway on-ramps and diamond lanes on the freeway.

As I've grown older I try to imagine it's my wife, sibling, son or daughter-in-law driving and respond gently and kindly when someone cuts me off or acts unkindly. Sometimes we just don't know what others are feeling or suffering. If there are two ways of interpreting another's action choose the one that shows kindness. That will give the other person the benefit of the doubt, spread a little kindness and reduce your stress level.

Buddhism and Hinduism have a concept called karma where past and present actions influence your future. It's nice to have another person reciprocate, but kindness can be its own reward.

Be watchful for a chance to demonstrate kindness. Do what you can to make a pleasant world, earn some good karma and relax in a happier and lower stress day.