Thunder of Fortune

Because of the cold medicine I took the night before, I woke up feeling groggy, but the thunder and lightning jolted me awake. Normally, I’m not that afraid of lightning, but the thunder in Chiang Mai was truly intense, as if it were striking right next to my accommodations.

Seeing the heavy rain and thunderstorm from early morning, I felt helpless. I had planned to start the day strong with a swim, but it felt like all my plans had just fallen apart. On top of that, the cold medicine was still making me feel drowsy. When I drew back the curtains and looked outside, it seemed like the bad weather wouldn’t clear anytime soon, which made me even sadder. 

 

rainy outside in Chiang Mai

But I quickly changed my mind, thinking,

Well, since I’m feeling sleepy anyway, I might as well take this chance to get some more rest. (Special thanks to my SC)

So, I took more medicine and went back to sleep. (*Of course, I still managed to attend an online meeting for work before falling asleep again.)

After about an hour, I woke up again to sunlight streaming through the curtains. It was amazing; I thought I had lost the entire day, but somehow, the weather had miraculously cleared.

Then, I started thinking about the laid-back attitude of people living in warm countries. They say people in warm countries are generally calm and have a sense of ease in their lives. While it might not be a rule, I wonder if that mindset rubbed off on me a bit during my travels here. Initially, I was disappointed about the rain, but soon, I found reasons to be grateful.

 

1. I’m thankful that the weather was nice when my friends visited, even though they stayed for a shorter time than me.
2. Despite the poor condition I was in because of the cold medicine, I’m thankful the bad weather gave me an excuse to rest even more comfortably.
3. I’m grateful I didn’t have any set plans for the morning, which gave me flexibility.
4. And I’m thankful for my husband, who always has caring words for me.

my husband's text messages in the morning

Back in Korea, I’m so used to the long rainy season that once it starts, I assume it to last. But here, with most of the rain being short and intense, I have this belief that it will clear up within a few hours, so I can wait it out with a more relaxed mindset.

The work I’m doing now, especially in a startup environment, involves a lot of unpredictability. This often makes me feel even more anxious. In fact, right up until I arrived in Chiang Mai, I was feeling rushed, impatient, and unusually sensitive. At times, I even found myself disliking who I was. But being here, I’ve gradually started to find peace and calm within myself, which feels wonderful.

Even though my circumstances won’t change when I return to Korea, I want to carry the sense of ease I’ve found here with me. I hope to hold onto that calmness and let it fill my daily life, no matter what comes my way.

The View in Chiang Mai