Unscripted. Unfiltered. Alive.
Imagine a young couple walking out of a restaurant. They just had an incredible meal and even better conversation. He pushes the door open for her as he's walking backwards inthralled in their subject only to bump into another patron. He apologizes only to realize there are dozens of people standing under the awning as it had started to rain while they were at dinner.
Everyone is waiting, hoping it will let up when it does the opposite. The rain doubles down as the water starts to cascade off the roof. The crowd turns around and walks back in out of the cold.
Right beneath the roar of the rain you can hear Frank Sinatra's voice pushing through the outdoor speakers as music tries to fill the parking lot. The man and women look at each other and a smirk grows on her lips. She pushes him out into the rain and jumps in his arms as they dance in front of everyone, laughing, smiling and holding each other tightly.
What a romantic imagery, right? Out of curiosity though... What is it about dancing in the rain that makes it seem so romantic? It's wet, probably cold, and you're going to have to ride in those soaked clothes all the way home. Heck you might have even ruined a good pair of shoes!
Do you want to know why I think it is? It's because the action of dancing in the rain communicates to your significant other there is nothing more important in the world in that moment than them.... Not how ridiculous you look, how cold you feel, or even your favorite shoes being ruined. Just them. That is it.
So what is the point of this imagery? Well, let me ask you a different question. In life.... what is THE MOST important love focused, spouse centered, romantic day in someone's life? Their wedding. Ok, so why is it if it started pouring rain on someone's outdoor wedding in the middle of the ceremony they would be devastated? Literally feeling as though their life was ruined?
I think there are two important lessons to highlight here in this dichotomy. Dancing in the rain is beautiful because it wasn’t part of the plan. That’s why it feels like magic. Rain at a wedding? That wasn’t supposed to happen. So it feels like a failure. It’s the same rain. But one gets met with joy. The other with frustration.
Why?
The lens through which we chose to see the moment. We expected something polished, something perfect, and when that expectation got disrupted, it tainted the whole experience. In reality though... the world doesn’t bend to our expectations. It never has. And the people who live the most deeply joyful lives aren’t the ones with the best circumstances, they’re the ones who’ve learned how to respond to the worst ones.
The second reason goes deeper. That wedding ceremony? It’s no longer just about two people. For most...It’s about everyone else. It’s a performance. It’s proof to others that what they have is real. When rain interrupts the performance, it doesn’t just ruin the moment…It ruins the image.
See the difference?
Dancing in the rain is something you do for you and your spouse. Getting married in the rain is something most people feel embarrassed in front of others. Because at some point, we started caring more about how life looks than how it feels.
These thoughts combined:
When your joy is based on your expectations and your identity is built on other people’s approval, you’ve built a life that’s always one rainstorm away from collapse.
But when you let go of the script… (Control)
When you stop waiting for the perfect moment…(Expectations)
When you stop needing applause to validate your decisions…(Approval)
You’ll find yourself soaking wet in the middle of an unplanned downpour… smiling. Not because the moment was perfect.... but because you were finally free enough to live it.
Your life is so much more than what other people see. It becomes even more when you choose to see it through the right lens. Every moment holds potential....not just to exist, but to be experienced. We get to decide the tone, the tempo, the meaning...but the more we hand over the pen, letting others narrate our story....the more we lose the beauty that was always meant to be ours.
You don’t need permission to live a full, vibrant life. Just the courage to see it differently… and the guts to dance in the rain anyway.
Today’s Forced Challenge: I want you to FORCE yourself to attack at least one of these challenges:
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Be the First One to Dance: Say yes to something silly, spontaneous, or fun...even if people are watching.
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Do Something Imperfect on Purpose: Post something creative (a thought, a sketch, a reel) without over-editing. Let it be done, not perfect.
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Ask for Nothing in Return: Do something kind, generous, or thoughtful this week… without telling anyone.
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Say What You Actually Think: In one conversation this week, stop editing yourself mid-sentence. Be lovingly honest....without the PR filter.
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Win without Posting: Just go do the thing. If you won, great! Keep it to yourself for once. It's not about showing everyone else you're awesome, it's about winning yourself over by giving your best.
Life was never meant to be lived only when the skies are clear. Joy isn’t reserved for perfect days or polished moments. It’s found in the mess. In the detours.
The storm doesn’t ruin the story, it washes away the mask and shows your true self. So loosen your grip on how it was supposed to go. Stop waiting for the world to clap.
And when the rain comes....and it will....don’t run for cover.
Step out.
Laugh hard.
Hold nothing back.
And dance.
“Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything that it is.” – Mandy Hale