41 Comments
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Sophie Lalani's avatar

Beautifully articulated, and perhaps you've inadvertently written a love letter to London <3

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you! London sounds lovely

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Kait Lucas's avatar

I loooove the rain, and winter. The quiet and introspection it brings, the chance for rest and recalibration. I always look forward to it. Especially as someone who lives in Southern California, because those moments are few and far between. My city hides from the rain and the cold—I wait for and welcome it. Such a beautiful love letter 💌

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caitlyn's avatar

Ohhh would you ever move to a place with seasons?

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Kait Lucas's avatar

I hope I can someday 🤞🏼

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Calling The Birds Home's avatar

Same here! I love the rain. I used to live in Portland, Oregon, and that long, gray, drizzly season was exactly what my soul needed. Also—what an incredible reading list! Thanks for sharing.

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caitlyn's avatar

I’m glad you enjoyed

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Tim Bishop's avatar

Really enjoyed this. Beautifully written. Come to Saigon after March, rain EVERY day 🤣

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caitlyn's avatar

Haha maybe some day!

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Mark Fresolone's avatar

So very beautiful!!

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you!

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

Oh I love the playlists you included at the end! I am totally going to use those when I write - thanks for sharing!

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caitlyn's avatar

🤎🤎🤎

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THE WHAT's avatar

☔️🥰 Also a rain lover who relishes cozy, heady reading days, melancholy films, and moody music. We have a feeling you’ll vibe with our Winter Reading Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6qiEINq1tF8sRs7XMoEGwf?si=aWTNts0UTUWOOPyGOQw_HQ&pi=WH9bOseeRHGLK

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you for this 🥰

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THE WHAT's avatar

Love your newsletter. We recommended you in our Nice Stacks section last week. 🤩 https://open.substack.com/pub/thewhathq/p/got-juicy-doubles?r=223j2t&utm_medium=ios

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lavinia's avatar

i feel so truly at home in your writing and this is one of my favorite pieces you've written :) your media recommendations always accompany the worlds that you illustrate so well, i too associate the rain with 'the lover' by duras as well as 'jane eyre.' have you heard the song 'i wish for the rain' by liana flores? this piece of writing feels like an extension of it and our playlists look so similar so i bet you would adore it!

"but the best [cities] seem to invite it in, to fold themselves into the storm. they are cities where the rain doesn’t feel like an interruption but rather an extension of their design and the people who inhabit it, where the streets look more alive under a storm, where the reflections in puddles make the world feel doubled, layered, infinite. they are places where rain becomes an atmosphere, a mood, an entire state of being— where the grey days feel like poetry and the world turns inward" is just brilliant and exactly what i've been trying to articulate for so long about the rain. i'm currently based in chicago and i swear this city comes to life when the streets and buildings are damp. art in galleries feels even more resonant and striking, writing flows out of me like a stream, curling up with a book and cup of cocoa feels like much more of a special occasion...thank you for this!

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you so much for the kind words! This made my day. I’m so glad that it resonates. I know Liana Flores, but I don’t think I’ve heard that song!

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lavinia's avatar

i am so happy my words could make your day because yours always make mine!! and i think you'd love that song by her, you should definitely check it out :)

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Harriet Hadfield's avatar

Stunning writing! Now I’m wishing for rain lol

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caitlyn's avatar

I always wish for rain 🤎

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Bita's avatar

Hi again Caitlyn, thank you for articulating something that a lot of us feel as well.

I've found myself comparing different kinds of weather lately, and being in Canada, snow came to mind first. Unlike rain, which is more of a peaceful inward cleanse, snowfall invites us to pause the turmoil and look out for hope, to accept things as they are while knowing that they are slowly evolving. I won't lie by saying that months of it at a time can invite stagnation sometimes, so we become sensitive to its slightest variations as well.

I also think about thunderstorms a lot. They are rain, but electrifying, energizing. Thunderstorms make me feel on top of the world, yet so small. They permit the introspection while giving birth to new ideas that get us excited. Their season, often late June or July to August, is my absolute favorite.

I often wonder what it would be like to live without the weather forecast, and I find myself admiring the animals outside my window that have to adapt to the elements every single day.

Anyway, ramble over. Thank you for your piece, as always. I am looking forward to reading more from you.

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you for your thoughts and kind words. I’m glad this resonated with you.🤎

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Mark Meier's avatar

Thank you. It felt like it was written just for myself. It flows as the rain does when it comes down. I want to save this and read it over again and again. 💌📚🖋️📄🌹🫶

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you Mark!

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anieca ayler's avatar

a hundred million billion times yes. this is exactly how i feel with rain, and too with snow.

thanks for getting the message out there—we can and should embrace the rhythms of seasons and weather, that not every day can or should be sunny and warm (read: demanding, productive, happy (read: patriarchal, capitalistic)).

stunning, beautiful words. ❤️‍🔥🌧️

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caitlyn's avatar

Thank you so much🤎

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marissa 💌's avatar

your writing never fails to blow me away

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Genevieve's avatar

I am definitely the most happy when it rains🥹

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Catherine Marlowe's avatar

Caitlyn- thank you so very much for putting words to a feeling I have had and have not been able to articulate very well! I am from the east coast and live In Southern California now and oh do I miss the seasons. I welcome the seldom times it does rain here- among all the feelings you describe, I also feel more creative when it rains. Thank you thank you for this piece- I just stumbled upon you here on Substack and am now a subscriber. ❤️

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

makes me want to watch the rain like an old film, feel all my feelings in slow motion

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