It’s Worth Getting Wet for the Rainbow

Gareth Hancock
Aug 8, 2017 · 3 min read

I took my dog for a walk in the rain and came home with a new motto for life.

I took my dog Barney for a walk this morning and about five minutes in it started pissing down. I didn’t have my rain jacket and we’d passed the point of no return so there was no chance of getting it. I was wearing a hoodie, though, so I wasn’t completely exposed. Barney didn’t have his coat either, but he didn’t seem bothered.

I don’t hate the rain. Being ginger, I actually enjoy it a lot of the time. But this morning it was a bit heavy, and the wind was slightly up so the rain was being blown into my face, which is bloody annoying.

We soldiered on against the elements and within a few minutes, we’re like drowned rats. Now I’m walking like a duck because my jogging bottoms are so heavy from the soaking they’ve received.

But there’s hope up ahead. A bus stop. A sheltered one no less. Perfect for a bit of respite.

We get there, and I don’t know what I’m thinking because it’s still chucking it down, but I say to Barney, “it’s only a shower mate, let’s keep going”.

He looks at me like, “Man, I love you so much. And I trust you. Let’s do it.”

So on we go, and it keeps pounding down. It’s bouncing at this stage. My Vans are useless against the onslaught, and they’re starting to squelch as the water pools beneath my socks.

Three hours pass (it was actually about three minutes, but it felt longer) and the rain starts to ease off. The wind has died down and the sun has made an appearance. 30 seconds later it’s boiling. Warm enough for me to take off my hoodie. As I’m doing so I see it… A rainbow, in all it’s glory. The end of it looks almost within walking distance.

I’ve seen loads of rainbows in my time. Christ, I used to watch the TV show religiously when I was a kid. But this one seems bigger and brighter than the others. Like an ultimate edition rainbow or something.

I’m totally caught up in the magnificence of it. So I look around to make sure no one can hear, and — fully aware of how cheesy this is going to sound — I say to Barney, “hey, it’s worth getting wet for the rainbow.”

He looks up like, “every word you say means so much to me. Man, I love you.” Dogs, eh?

The point is: some days are shit and you’ll feel like giving up. But if you crack on, work hard and keep showing up every day, things will come good. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts.

Persistence pays off, it’s just that sometimes you have to get pissing wet first.

The Ascent

A community of storytellers documenting the journey to happiness & fulfillment.

Gareth Hancock

Written by

I write words for people. Owner of www.thatcontentshed.com (@thatcontentshed).

The Ascent

A community of storytellers documenting the journey to happiness & fulfillment.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade