Day 4: Life Bucket List #1

It’s Monday, and today, I crossed something off my bucket list: dancing in the rain.

No, I wasn’t trying to be poetic or romantic. I was just... late. And, honestly, a little tired of being boring. In fact, I was on my way to home from office, just like any other ordinary day. The sky looked miserable, like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to cry or hold it in. Same, honestly.

I didn’t have an umbrella because, of course, I didn’t check the weather. I mean, who does that? So there I was, power-walking through the park, my bag clutched like it contained the secret to world peace.

Then it happened.

One single, dramatic raindrop hit the tip of my nose. I stopped dead in my tracks. You know that moment in movies where the character looks up at the sky like, really? Yeah, that was me.

Before I could even process my bad luck, the sky opened up like it had a grudge. It wasn’t just rain—it was rain. The kind that soaks you in three seconds flat. The ground turned slick, the air filled with the scent of fresh earth and wet concrete and people around me scattered like cockroaches under a flashlight, diving for cover under awnings and trees.

Me? I just stood there like an idiot, letting it happen.

And then, out of nowhere, this thought popped into my head: Why not dance?

Let me be clear—I’m not a dancer. My moves are strictly limited to awkward side-stepping at weddings. But something about that rain, combined with the sheer chaos of my morning, made me snap.

I kicked off my shoes and stepped onto the soggy grass. The squish between my toes was gross, sure, but also kind of... freeing? I spun in a circle, flailing my arms like one of those inflatable tube guys outside car dealerships.

And you know what? It felt amazing.

Until I slipped.

Yep, one spin too many, and I went down like a sack of potatoes. My butt hit the ground with a wet splat. A guy walking past actually clapped. Clapped! I wanted to yell something witty, but all I could manage was a thumbs-up before scrambling to my feet. By then, I was soaked to the bone, my hair plastered to my face like some sad mop.

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My makeup? Gone. My pride? Also gone.

But I couldn’t stop laughing. I laughed—actually, laughed—like I hadn’t in so long.

Of course, the universe couldn’t just let me have this one moment. Nope. As I was mid-twirl, a group of kids pointed and started giggling. One of them yelled, “Look, Mom! She’s crazy!”

Awesome. Thank you, child. Really boosting my self-esteem here.

People have a way of making you feel small when you don’t fit into their boxes.

And then, as if on cue, I sneezed so hard that it was probably louder than the thunder. That’s when I decided it was time to go home.

My clothes felt like a cold, clingy hug I didn’t ask for, and my bag now weighed as much as a small child. So, I grabbed my shoes and made the walk of shame home.

By the time I walked through the front door, I was soaked to the bone, my hair dripping and my clothes sticking to me like a cold, soggy second skin. My body ached in that way you know will only get worse by morning, but I didn’t regret it—not one bit.

Mom took one look at me and sighed. “What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t,” I said with a grin.

“You’re going to catch a cold!” she snapped, throwing a towel at me. “How can you be so irresponsible? Do you have any idea how hard this will make everything? For you, for me…?”

Her words trailed off, but I knew what she was going to say. For the first time, though, I didn’t care.

She doesn’t understand. How could she?

But I didn’t care.

For her, life is a straight line, predictable and practical, marching forward without pause. For me, it’s a clock winding down, ticking louder with every passing second.

So yes, I danced in the rain. And yes, I’ll probably wake up tomorrow with a sore throat and a fever.

But for one glorious moment, I felt free. And isn’t that what life is supposed to be about?

ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVE: A STRANGER IN THE PARK

It was one of those days where the rain came out of nowhere, drenching anyone foolish enough to leave their umbrella at home. Most people ran for cover, but not her.

She stood there, her pink hair turning dark as it soaked through. And then, she started dancing.

At first, I thought she was just another eccentric kid, but there was something… pure about the way she moved. Like she was trying to squeeze every last drop of joy out of the moment.

I almost pulled out my phone to record her, but it didn’t feel right. Some moments aren’t meant to be captured. They’re just meant to be.