It rains frequently in Ireland, as it did on this day when my mother and I were visiting the Cliffs of Moher. And people spend a lot of time talking with one another about the rain, how gloomy it is, and wondering when the sun will shine again. All of this commiseration seems to add power to the greyness and increase mind fog. It was on another rainy day that this passage by Thich Naht Hanh appeared, putting a different perspective on the rain:
“We have an idea of happiness. We may believe that only certain conditions will make us happy. But it is often our very idea of happiness that prevents us from being happy. The conditions for happiness are already there, available inside and around us. We have eyes that can see, legs that can walk, lungs that can breathe. All the wonders of life are available in the present moment—the sunshine, the fresh air, the trees, the multitude of colors and forms all around us. The essential thing is to be aware. If we open our eyes, we will see.”
Excerpt From
How to See
Thich Nhat Hanh
As a friend of mine who has lived in Ireland for many years informed me, “If you live here, you need to love the rain.”
Is it possible to find happiness in the midst of what are considered to be dreary conditions by loving the rain?
Giclées of this Moher painting are available here.
Your thoughts?