How Weather, Memory, and Nature Quietly Restores Us
Yes, we need the rain. Yes, my garden is thirsty. Yes, the trees and shrubs have been begging for water, not to mention the grass. But come on. Seven straight days of rain make me want to start building an ark.
Today, though, the breeze is gentle, and the birch trees are enjoying their play with the wind. From the screened porch, I can feel the air without fighting the bugs, and I’m sheltered from the sunburn I’m prone to. Being outside does something to your soul. It feels like a hunger programmed into the brain. Maybe those nine months of confinement in the womb leave us forever longing for the outdoors, drawn back to it again and again.
I especially envy the hiker who can throw on a backpack and wander through miles of forest or field. They get to see life up close and in simple terms. I am more of the rocking‑chair type, with a view of the garden where colors and scents mingle in the air. It reminds me of summers on the farm, lazy evenings on the porch swing, the scent of lilac drifting by. Don’t get me wrong. I work hard and love my work. But when I close the computer, I am hungry for nature, for the garden, for the soft tone of the wind chime in the center of the yard.
I am grateful for the rain — it is the necessary ingredient for the flowers, trees, and shrubs I enjoy. Today, the breeze moves the birch tree in ways that make it look as if it’s dusting the sky. The fan of the tree becomes a giant feather duster, sweeping the clouds. Perhaps they do need freshening up.
The rain has also boosted the clematis. Suddenly, it is climbing above the trellis and reaching for the deck rails. I hope it succeeds. Seeing those lovely blue blooms weave between the railings would be a welcome sight.
I know it will rain again. I know we need it. I know I will be stuck inside, longing for it to end. I just have a hard time staying indoors when the outside is so complicated, so alive, and so endlessly interesting.
For more reflections on nature, memory, and the psychology of restoration, explore Psychology Today and research from the Greater Good Science Center.
If you are exploring how nature, rhythm, or seasonal shifts affect your emotional life, therapy can help you understand and deepen those connections. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support grounding, clarity, and emotional renewal.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
