May 2024 | Lessons from Living in Different Climates
Westerners envy those of us who live in a tropical climate, while we get excited at the thought of seeing snow.
I was in both camps.
When I was younger, I dreamed of touching and playing in the snow. Then I lived in Buffalo, NY, with the extreme winter and the great lake effect, suddenly, I missed the warmth and some level of humidity, too.
But then, I experienced living both Missoula, MT, and El Paso, TX—extremes of north and south. I found it harder to adapt to the low humidity. I missed the sweat. Going for a quick run without breaking a sweat made my workouts feel useless.
Now, back to my original point. In the monsoon climate, there aren’t four distinct seasons—just two: dry and wet, as we call them. Do I like it? I do. In fact, I prefer rain over a prolonged period of hot, dry weather. However, I’ve come to understand why rain symbolizes a bad day for many people, especially those living in four-season climates. Sunny days are rare, time moves quickly, and the days to truly enjoy are limited in those 365.
I feel fortunate to have learned this firsthand—the perks of living in different places.
I still enjoy the mossy monsoon regardless—the smell of the earth after the rain. What’s the word? “Petrichor.”
So nostalgic… hmmm.
Perhaps, maybe this is why mushroom has always been in my grocery list?
We are so tiny, and there is so much to explore and learn from.