I took the above photo this evening. It was WONDERFUL to peek out of the glass door of my balcony and see the POURING rain. I LOVE the rain. Yet, even though I love the rain, I sometimes I wonder if I have a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder…. many people feel slightly depressed or “off” as the seasons change and there is less sun.
It is strange that I would feel very slightly run down in the winter, and yet, when I see the rain I am so energized. One of my daughters is the same way – we both get SOOO excited when the rain starts pouring down – and my entire family loves to hear the thunder roar and watch the beautiful show that nature presents to us with lightning in the sky!
I think that I have a hard time with seasonal changes, not due to lack of exposure to the sun (as I always seem to be piled deep in paperwork at my desk and never get out as often as I would like to), but due to the fact that the sun is not yet up when I have to get out of bed. I find it so much easier to get out of bed in the summer, when the sun rises before I do. That is just the way life should be – the sun rising before me. I do not like mornings when I beat the sun…… and I am in the middle of that season when my alarm clock definitely goes off before the sun goes up…….
I suppose my biorhythms do not mesh well with winter. I am definitely NOT a morning person – my perfect job would start at 10:00 in the morning (yes, I know that I believe the perfect field for me is education so there is a rare chance that this will ever line up for me). I do not mind working late, I would work until 22:00 at night with no issues, if only my alarm could be set for after that sun rises!
Seasonal changes and mood liability is a very real struggle for many people. We know that in cities where there is more cloudy and rainy days there is more depression and higher suicide rates. When the seasons affect a person that much, it is important that they seek assistance so that they do not find themselves in a desperate position.
Today 78 days ’til 40, as much as I do not like the lack of morning sun, in my life the rain makes up for it. I am looking forward to listening to the rain as I fall asleep tonight.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
undeadpollyanna
December 5, 2012 at 02:54
I miss the rain SO much! Send some of it my way? …I get ‘sad’ as well, but I drove home in the dark tonight with all the twinkling lights of traffic and thought how beautiful they looked. (Think it helped the windshield is dirty!)Xb.
400daystil40
December 5, 2012 at 21:50
I love the rain – how great to enjoy the special gifts of darkness, like the city lights that you mention.
sharonhughson
December 5, 2012 at 04:47
SAD is a reality for me. I don’t mind the rain and I love how fresh everything smells after it rains, but days and weeks of endless gray skies pushes me past my limits of endurance.
I am a morning person, but I’m not crazy about beating the sun up. What I really despise is that it’s getting dark when I’m heading home from work at 4pm. By 7pm, I’m ready for bed because the darkness is so complete.
400daystil40
December 5, 2012 at 21:50
SAD is very hard to cope with. Very good point, when I left work today it was very dark and that was very hard for me….
irishsignora
December 5, 2012 at 05:01
My younger daughter LOVES rain. At the first hint of falling droplets, she zips out the back door, usually barefoot, absolutely coatless, and if she finds that there is, in fact, an actual rainstorm, she capers around the back yard, finding every little puddle and jumping in it, then breathlessly dripping her way up the stairs to annouce joyfully, “MOMMY! I found a DOWNPOUR!” Peace be with you 🙂 Kelly
400daystil40
December 5, 2012 at 21:49
I used to be like your daughter!
Gunslinger Poet
December 5, 2012 at 10:40
great photo! i hear you on the mood/season changes…
400daystil40
December 5, 2012 at 21:49
Thank you!!!
Richard Leonard
December 5, 2012 at 12:49
I didn’t immediately see the rain or the street lights in that photo. I saw a a pair of sinister-looking eyes peering from beneath a hooded face. The rain just emphasises the whole darkness theme. Excellent photo. 🙂
As for the actual theme of your post ( 🙂 ) I think weather definitely does affect people’s moods. Mine tend to follow the weather quite directly. Good weather, good mood, etc.
400daystil40
December 5, 2012 at 21:49
I like that you saw the face first – many people seem to see a face in the photo! 🙂
Another Thousand Words
December 5, 2012 at 16:19
Back when I was working, it really bothered me that I would leave when it was dark, and not get home until after dark…and rarely saw the sun at all in those days. But, being so busy, I really didn’t care, because my jobs demanded constant creativity, in which I take great joy. I do know many people affected by the change of seasons, though, and feel badly that it seems to be something that cannot be overcome, even with varying treatments.
400daystil40
December 5, 2012 at 21:47
I agree that it is easier when you are busy at work!
Another Thousand Words
December 6, 2012 at 02:13
WordPress is really screwy…can’t do a reply!
Another Thousand Words
December 6, 2012 at 02:15
This is for your previous post:
It is a difficult task, unless you make time to go out and shoot every few days…or as I sometimes do, shoot tabletop set-ups if I don’t have the energy to do all the walking required. When I am out and about, I rarely come back with less than 36 shots, usually 50-60, and the editing takes time…as does any little story which might be apropos.
You do well with the writing, so your battle is more than half-won, 400…but I am liking your images an awful lot!
400daystil40
December 6, 2012 at 21:58
Thank you so much for the image encouragement! I may have to go shoot much more, and I also lack the energy… also, as you must be aware, I have to shoot SOO many to get the one accidentally amazing post.
Another Thousand Words
December 7, 2012 at 02:15
I lack the energy some days too, 400…but it gets me out of the house (no cabin fever allowed here) and gives me a great sense of accomplishment! And…not every post needs to be ‘amazing’, just a well-done image that shows some thought was put into it…you already do that part very well! ;>) !!!
400daystil40
December 7, 2012 at 23:08
Thanks!
Another Thousand Words
December 8, 2012 at 03:28
:>) !!!
walkwiththerabbi
December 6, 2012 at 04:41
WOW!!! Seventy-eight days. It is such a trip taking this journey with you. While on the topic of things liquid, If you guys have never taken a cruise with your own balcony, put it on the short-list! Leaving the balcony door open as you get into bed, with the ship gently lapping the waves as background music – magical!
400daystil40
December 6, 2012 at 21:57
Thanks so much! hehe – we actually have already lived the cruise experience – even with our own balcony! We did this with the girls as a very special treat two years ago… Ironically, that boat no longer exists! We were on the Costa Concordia – the part that went under water first was where our balcony was! Glad we were on it a year before it sank!
simon7bankss
December 10, 2012 at 19:16
I can well understand this. A rainstorm is spectacularly beautiful, especially when viewed from inside a house! The sound of rain is fantastic. I once spent a night in a semi-official youth hostel on the smal island of Hoy in the Orkneys (islands off the north-east tip of Scotland). There was a violent thunderstorm. The roof was corrugated iron. Magic!
400daystil40
December 10, 2012 at 22:39
Yes! I LOVE the rain when in a place with corrugated roofs (I experienced it in south africa!) it is magic!!!!!