Rainfall, Farmers Markets, & Quiet Moments That Change Us

#cbr, 2025 - #nowplaying - The Fear Inside, Running - frankmusik

Weight of Memory

Let’s be real - mornings aren’t always about grand revelations. Sometimes they’re about rain, memories, and unexpected connections.

Last night, the sky broke open. Those heavy drops reminded me of another rainy night, years ago, when I was working at Erewhon Market. The freeway was a black mirror, rain hammering against my windshield. I remember that moment of sudden splash - water erupting around my car like a liquid explosion, the world momentarily blinding and bright.

Echoes of Past & Present

This morning, the suburbs wore a fresh coat of wetness. Everything glistened - streets, leaves, the very air itself seemed washed clean. The farmers market hummed with its usual quiet energy, produce lined up like soldiers of sustenance.

Unexpected Teacher

And then - that moment. A 10-year-old boy, mischievous and bold, playing his little game with the checkout belt. His hand repeatedly stopping my items, that smirk dancing on his lips. In another time, another version of myself might have felt irritation. Might have seen an interruption.

But something inside me had shifted.

Wisdom often arrives in the most unexpected packages.

I smiled. Not a forced smile. Not a polite smile. But a genuine recognition of human playfulness. Of childhood’s beautiful, boundless spirit.

He looked back. Surprised, perhaps, by my lack of frustration. His smile softened. A moment of unexpected connection.

Walking Home - Internal Landscape

My umbrella became more than protection from rain. It was a companion on this journey of understanding. Each step felt different. Lighter. The rain around me wasn’t just water - it was metaphor. Washing away old narratives. Clearing space for something new.

Subtle Art of Presence

What if our most profound lessons come not from grand speeches or calculated teachings, but from these tiny, unscripted moments? A child’s playfulness. A rainy morning. The simple act of choosing how we respond.

Stay curious. Stay open. Stay connected.

Because life? It’s happening right now. In the farmers markets. In the rain. In the spaces between what we expect and what actually unfolds.

-Mitchell Royel