An ode to emotions, innocence, and what we’ve lost in growing up
“I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying.”
— Charlie Chaplin
There’s something about the rain that makes us pause... It softens the noise of the world, muffles our worries, and lets our hearts whisper things we’ve been too busy to hear. Science calls this emotional attunement — how our brains sync with the rhythmic, meditative sound of rain, often triggering a calming, nostalgic, or cathartic response.
But for many, rain is more than just water from the sky.
It is memory. It is emotion. It is a mirror.
I remember being ten — maybe twelve. The clouds would roll in, thunder crackled far away like a teasing drumbeat, and we kids would burst out of our homes barefoot and wide-eyed. No raincoats. No shame. Just underwear and laughter. We'd dance and splash until our fingers wrinkled, until the sky got tired, or our mothers called us in, warm towels ready.
We were free.
We were innocent.
And joy was as pure as rainwater.
What happened to those days?
Today, rain feels different.
For some, it’s a comfort — a hiding place for tears, like Chaplin said.
For others, it's a heaviness that matches the weight they carry.
And many simply can’t slow down long enough to feel anything at all.
In a world racing toward perfection, efficiency, and image, our emotional weather is often brushed aside. But science reminds us that feeling is a human strength — not a weakness. The rain, like our emotions, comes in waves. We are not meant to be sunny all the time.
So if your heart feels heavy, let it rain.
Cry if you must. Dance if you can.
But above all — remember.
Remember the child who ran barefoot in joy.
The rain that made everything feel alive.
And the freedom of a heart unashamed to feel.
Author’s Note
This reflection was born out of lived experience, deep thought, and the quiet conversations between the human heart and technology. While written in collaboration with AI as a creative writing assistant under the direction and authorship of The Listening Pen, every insight reflects the real emotions, belief, and personal journey of the author. The intention is to uplift, provoke thought, and connect with others walking life’s rainy seasons.
Disclaimer on Usage & Reproduction
This article is protected by copyright. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of this content — in whole or in part — without proper attribution is strictly prohibited. If you wish to quote, cite, or republish, please contact the author for permission. contact@chikicha.com
for proper citations: The Listening Pen, (2025) "When it Rains the Heart Remembers " (URL) https://chikicha.com/relationship-reset/journal-5---when-it-rains--the-heart-remembers
Thanks #ELG21, #Fifaliana-joy & #Anrita1705 for these photos