Sometimes I wish nature had more empathy. And I say this selfishly, not at human scale. Yes, when natural disasters strike and life and property are lost, nature isn’t really showing any chill. I’m talking about those times when your mood is diametrically opposed to what nature is doing with itself right outside your front door. It’s actually kind of helpful when the weather reflects your attitude. Shitty mood? Shitty weather. Awesome. Seriously, it’s comforting to think that your mental state is capable of influencing the world around you. It may not improve your mood, but it certainly doesn’t worsen it.
I imagine it’s possible to be in a good mood during really crappy weather, and I’m sure if I went back through my life, I’d be able to disprove this thesis with multiple examples of times when I cared not one whit for how well my emotions meshed with the natural world. So what? I didn’t need the world to respect my situation at those moments. But sometimes I like when it does. Staring out the window into the face of a howling rainstorm while you slip slowly into deepening sadness. That’s the stuff. Walking through a crisp fall wind while your melancholy washes over you. Ahhhh.
The reverse can also be true. Happiness can be augmented by streaming sunshine and perfect temperatures. It’s just that in those moments, it’s more of a cherry on top than an affirmation of how you feel. You’re not really in it together with nature in those moments. But when you stop and notice the world around you in sync with how you feel, it’s as though you’re both in it together. And that can feel very powerful even if deep down you know it’s mere coincidence and not a case of you exerting your will upon the environment.
Empathy can be a wonderful thing. Even when it’s only a figment of your imagination or a mere element of chance. Maybe even more so in those cases. Misery loves company, and when it’s the whole wide world, that’s all the company you need.