It is difficult to explain in words the kind of exhilarating joy the rains bring. But you’ll discover it for yourself in these simple little ways:

1. Sail paper boats in water puddles

Childhood memories are filled with simple joys like these. Pause your busy lives for a moment and let the rains bring out the child within.

2. Play football in the rain

For once, don’t play to win. Play for the joy of playing. Get together with friends, or strangers, and enjoy the exhilaration of playing football barefoot on a muddy maidan as the rains soak your being.

3. Invest in a big cheerful umbrella

Sharing company under your umbrella makes monsoons even more endearing. The more the merrier.

4. Make a batch of crispy pakodas to go with a steaming cuppa

Nature awakens to the bliss of monsoon showers. Let chai and pakodas awaken your soul to the rains.

5. Create a playlist of all the rain songs everyone loves

Ab ke saawan, Tip tip barsa paani, Raindrops keep falling on my head… listening to them makes you feel the monsoon drizzle in your veins. It’s a beautiful feeling, as cool as ice-candy on hot day and yet, as warm as love.

6. Watch an old movie at home

There’s no better time than monsoons to be a couch potato. Grab a big bowl of popcorn, and bring out all those old DVDs.

7. Stay in bed

Rains give you the best reason to excuse yourself from work or classes. Turn your alarm clock off and go back to sleep, or even better, laze in bed and watch the rain from your window.

8. Take a walk, jump into every puddle you come across

It’s a silly, childish thing to do. But just do it, and your heart will be overcome with a strange sense of happiness.

9. Go through an old photo album

The monsoon showers set the perfect mood to reminisce old times and sweet memories of old friends.

10. Spot a rainbow

As a child, you thought rainbows were magical. As you grew up, science rejected that notion. But even today, looking at one leaves you mesmerized. Now isn’t that magical?

11. Read poems by Rumi and Neruda

There’s something about the monsoons that fills the air with romance. The path to your heart opens wider, heightening your ability to appreciate poetry and beautiful things.

12. Surrender

Step outside, look up to the heavens, and open your arms to the rains. Dance, jump for joy, celebrate. Feel raindrops drench your soul and fill you up with sheer happiness.

The next time it rains, don’t just get wet. Feel the rain.