With wetter winters set to become the norm, many of us are struggling with the incessant rain. In York, the river is rising, the council has fenced off puddles, and even the postman is escaping to the Philippines. But farmers, flood victims and those who endured 40 days of rain are entitled to grumble; the rest of us might need a new perspective.
Romanticising the rain can help: wear something ethereal, put on Sigur Rós and stare out the window like an unreliable narrator. Rainfall also creates negative ions, which the BBC says may relieve stress and boost energy. Writing your own rain song is another option – rhymes like pain, slain and arcane are a start.
For the crafty, Japanese teru teru bōzu dolls are simple charms hung outside to improve weather. Contemplate the Carnian Pluvial Episode, when it rained for two million years – if sauropods could cope, so can we. Invent a rain ritual, like Balinese prayer and incense, or the Roman anti-hail (but skip the owl crucifixion).
Reassess your rain wardrobe: a poncho that makes you look like a watermelon might help, or dance naked in the rain like Blue Pearl. Enjoy the ASMR of tapping on windows, or revolt against water companies releasing sewage into waterways – 181 alerts last Monday. Just remember your brolly.
