Five Reasons to be Thankful For the (Incessant) Rain

Between the heavy snows of this past winter and the current unrelenting rain, a lot of us are suffering from precipitation overload. Let's take a step back and think about the reasons we should be thankful for the rain.

1. Because the plants are loving it: Lawns are green and vegetable gardens are growing like crazy. As long as the plants don't actually wash away, we'll get to enjoy their bounty later in the summer.
2. Because rain creates some beautiful moments, like a sidewalk turned purple by falling blossoms, the awesome sight of a storm crossing a lake, or that fresh-air, after-rain smell.
3. Because we could be in southeastern and east-central Texas, where no measurable precipitation has been recorded for the last 3 months and the drought conditions are considered "exceptional."
4. Because it makes you feel that there's still time before the weather is nice enough that you have to go try on bathing suits.
5. Because rain is a wonderful excuse to skip all the "shoulds" and just indulge yourself. Somehow a rainy day gives you permission to say, "Yes, there's a mountain of laundry high enough that I'll need oxygen bottles to get to the top, but I think I'll go curl up in a chair and read a trashy novel."