Welcoming August :The Month of Rain, Reflection, and Renewal

Is it a fleeting dream or a transient moment? How swiftly the days are slipping by! 

August is here again! It reminds me of the exhilaration of a bird soaring on its wings, gliding high above hills and valleys, reaching far into the horizon. I feel the thrill of its flight—listening to the fluttering of its wings, flying as freely as it wishes, perching whenever and wherever it desires. 

Hello, August—an embodiment of dignity and grandeur. Your majestic presence commands respect. You uplift us with your message of liberation, inspiring us to shed our fears, hesitations, and uncertainties. You whisper that true freedom is something we discover within ourselves and claim through our own efforts. 

Can you be considered the climax of summer? You seem to carry the fatigue of scorching days, the haze and heat that drain us. Yet, you also bring relief through your gentle showers—sometimes mild, sometimes mighty—that cool our spirits and refresh the earth. We affectionately call these rains “August Rains,” a symbol of renewal. 

Dear August, you are a blessed month. Your 15th day marks Independence Day in India—a historic milestone that fills us with pride. And once again, you make me think of a bird soaring high in the sky.

You make us ponder the essence of freedom in life. You remind us of its importance and evoke the instinct to relish it fully. Freedom, I realize, must be attained in many areas: in our thoughts, in our words, in our choices, in expressing ourselves, in unleashing our innate talents. Ultimately, the greatest freedom is to be authentically ourselves. 

These freedoms are innate within us, yet often hidden. We need to make a conscious effort to see them, to recognize their presence. When we do, they reveal themselves like intricate patterns seen through a kaleidoscope—beautiful, vibrant, and full of endless possibilities

Let us strive to practice these freedoms diligently. Let us give wings to our desires, unlock our potential, and fly on our own strength. Welcome, dear August—bless us with your august presence. 

This year, your arrival was a grand celebration. You came cloaked in the embellishments of rain and dawn’s first light. The overcast sky, the quick bursts of drizzle, and distant thunder’s faint roar painted a picture of nature’s symphony.

 Sylvia Plath’s words surfaced in my mind as I watched the rain from my balcony:

''August rain, the best of the summer gone and the new fall not yet born, the odd, uneven time". But my heart was reluctant to accept the notion of an ending. 

Are you the climax of summer, as we sometimes call you? Or are you the harbinger of the rainy season? Perhaps, you are a beautiful amalgamation of all these seasons—a reminder that life itself is a blend of rainy days and sunny moments. 

You seem to tell us that true beauty lies in the vividness and variety of our experiences—the storms and the sunshine, the warmth and the coolness. These are your subtle messages, crafted within the intricate design of time, preparing us to weather life’s storms with resilience. 

Aren't these all your own strategies construed within meticulously, with the one and only intention of preparing us to weather the storms in life?

August, you know what? I love you dearly, even with all your quirks. You bring sparkling rains amid the sultry heat, blooming seasonal flowers everywhere, and whispers that winter is approaching. 

Most of all, you remind me that I possess my own freedom—the freedom to think, to love, to express, to speak, and to be my authentic self. 

Dear August, you are my cherished friend, eagerly awaited every year with anticipation and joy.

Usha Krishnan