August 3, 2026
Personal Reflections
Terrible news, challenging conversations, discouragement, and an emergency involving someone I love and deeply care about overwhelmed me last week. [If you have been told what is going on, please continue to keep it a secret. We are trying to protect this person’s privacy.]
Alongside her words of support and encouragement, a friend of mine said something profoundly true: “When it rains, it pours.” Anyone who has known suffering or hardship knows just how true this is.
I do not want to downplay the fact that both literal and metaphorical rainstorms have downsides, but there are positive impacts that deserve exploration.
Rain is filled with hope and promise as it nourishes Mother Earth and all her children. Life-giving, cleansing, and cooling, the rain can be both a powerful force and a gentle relief. Many people feel relaxed when they listen to the sound of the rain; its rhythm resonates with something deep in our souls. Petrichor is one of the best perfumes our Mother Earth wears.
Metaphorical rain acts similarly. Conflicts and challenging circumstances can be clarifying as they draw us back to the deeper meanings of life. The rain can cleanse us of the trivial matters that usually occupy our minds. Rainstorms, in particular, can be powerful, as each situation puts the others in perspective, and vice versa.
The meaning of it all came flooding to me as I stepped outside Saturday morning and felt the summer rain dance upon me. I did not wear a raincoat or use an umbrella because I am a Washingtonian after all [just like those in Seattle. Praying for peace, strength, and resilience during this awful time.]
I breathed in the petrichor and suddenly knew that everything was going to be okay. I realized, if I let it, I could reuse the rainwater from this week to bless and nourish my character, my perspective, and my appreciation for life.
Hilary Duff sang it best in her timeless hit Come Clean.Click here to listen to the song, and here to read the lyrics. Duff recently revisited the song and made a new version here.
Regardless of what kind of rain pours into your life, I hope that there is some way that it can bless you. If you ever find yourself flooded and overwhelmed, please know you have a friend in me. You can contact me anytime at rachelintheaudience@gmail.com.
This Week in the Arts
With titles still being decided, I will be publishing three pieces in my JOLT Column including:
A Conversation with Ilidia Nicholas
Sneak Peek: Women’s Dignity School presents West African Cultural Event
Sneak Peek: Olympia Bon Odori Festival
I will be publishing these articles under “Rachel’s Choice”
Actress Teri Lee Thomas discusses Harlequin Production’s ‘Sweat’
The rest are to be determined, still working on catching up from last week.
To read my articles as they come out, I invite you to subscribe to The JOLT News and follow me on Instagram and Facebook, then invite a friend to do the same! :)
If you read a story that inspires you, I invite you to share it with others and help spread the word about the incredible things happening in the Thurston County Arts Community.
Other Fun Things This Week
14 Questions for My Community: What would you say to someone who feels like they have failed or are a failure?
Getting in ‘The Zone’: “Time Enough at Last”: Season 1, Episode 8. Watch here in advance.
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