As children, we were taught to sit in a circle and sing “rain rain go away, come again another day” whenever the windows were plastered with raindrops and the heavy thrum of water droplets echoed on the roof. At the time, I too wanted the rain to go away. It would prevent me from playing outside with my friends, and it made my hair wet and frizzy whenever I would dare to step outside. Everyone would hide under their umbrellas, in fear of even a droplet of water touching their body. However, there would always be a few children who would walk through the rain without a care in the world. These children would stop to splash in the puddles or stick their tongues out to catch the raindrops. I would always watch them from the safety of my umbrella. To me, and to many others, the idea that rain could be seen as a friend rather than an enemy was quite peculiar. 

However, recent psychological research illustrates that people who love rain (also called pluviophiles) have been shown to experience a greater amount of happiness in life than those who dislike rain. This idea is bizarre and counterintuitive. To most, rain is associated with sorrow. When it is raining, the sky is dark, the sun is nowhere to be seen, and with that, a majority of the population experiences a dip in serotonin levels due to the lack of sunshine. In fact, in rainy climates, individuals have a higher likelihood of experiencing chronic feelings of sadness, which could even lead to depression. Regardless, pluviophiles continue to smile at the sky as it threatens to rain, and experience heightened feelings of joy when a downpour does begin. Those who have a love for rain are not only content whilst it is raining, these individuals are also shown to be happier and more agreeable as a whole than the average person. 

Happiness researcher Dr. Matt Killingsworth concluded that there exists a direct correlation between happiness and being present. Those who enjoy the moment rather than stressing about the future or the past are objectively more at ease than those who are constantly fretting. Pluviophiles are especially in tune with the present moment and their surroundings. Often, rain can be seen as an irritating barrier due to the fact that it disrupts outdoor activities and causes clouds to block sunlight. However, those who love rain never fret about its potential arrival. They recognize that regardless of what the weather entails, they will find merriment in it. These individuals generally carry this mentality throughout all aspects of their lives as well. Furthermore, a large portion of happiness comes from one’s self-perception and overall confidence. The happiest of individuals are those who prioritize their own happiness above the opinions of others. Pluviophiles run through the rain without any concern for their hair getting wet, their makeup smearing, or how they appear to those around them. They simply allow their love for the rain to drive their impulses and are exponentially happier as a result of it. 

The love for rain which pluviophiles possess also allows them to find beauty in things that others associate with sadness. Rain is typically a weather condition that is used to set the tone of gloom and sorrow in films and literature. It is also used to represent misfortune when it begins to pour randomly and spoil an outdoor event. Those with a love for rain recognize the melancholy that is associated with it. However, these individuals are also more likely to accept this aspect of rainy weather and use the time to introspect whilst enjoying the rain, rather than mulling over the gloom that is commonly associated with it. Through this, pluviophiles are able to find beauty in sadness and are not afraid to explore deeper aspects of themselves. 

While many perceive rain to be an isolating and somber event that causes nothing but an inconvenience. Those who possess a love for rain are ultimately more free-spirited and content with life. The children who never worried about shielding themselves with umbrellas are the same children who grow up to be happy teenagers that were able to maintain their optimism through a global pandemic that caused many to spiral into pessimism. These individuals take any situation with stride, and allow themselves to always see the silver lining within the clouds.