Recently, I wrote about why I don’t listen to news radio. Similarly, I don’t check the weather. The reasons are a little different but the philosophy is similar.
photo by Miroslav Petrasko
Just the other week, it was confirmed to me that this is a good approach.
I overheard someone mention it was supposed to rain all week long. Sure enough, the next day was overcast and, before too long, raindrops started to fall.
Claudia and I got a little discouraged as we peered out our kitchen window knowing it was supposed to be like this all week. Not that I’m opposed to the rain, but I prefer blue skies and sunshine.
Well, as the week rolled on, things changed. The sun started shining and, towards the middle of the week, the weather was gorgeous with full-blown blue skies and sunshine!
I was frustrated that I allowed the rainy forecast to discourage me at the beginning of the week. And, the fact that the forecast was wrong, made it even worse.
This experience confirmed that I like my approach and made me think through it a little further.
Here a few reasons why I don’t check the weather:
– As in the above story, the weather forecast seems to only be accurate 50% of the time anyways.
– I prefer to be pleasantly surprised by what the day’s weather will bring. It keeps it interesting.
– It’s taught me to look up at the sky more often to see what the day will hold. This results in me appreciating God’s painted canvas in the heavens more often.
– We don’t have a TV, so I’m not hearing the weather there.
– I don’t listen to news radio or the radio at all, for that matter. So, not hearing the weather there.
I’m not saying listening to the weather is wrong, I’ve just found I keeps life simpler for me and I like that.
Question: Do you check the weather forecast?
Sometimes… And this weekend was one like your week that you mentioned. Being a three day weekend, everyone was checking the weather at work. Forecast was for rain everyday. Everyone was a bit bummed and thought of cancelling some of their plans.
After everything was done, we got light rain one day and a thunderstorm late last night. Nothing that would have interrupted the activities that were planned.
Well, it’s good that you had nice weather for all that fishing, Joe!
I will check the weather on occasion, especially if I’m going to be doing something outside like fishing or camping. But, I don’t give the extended forecast much attention at all!
I don’t regularly check the weather forecast unless I will be doing some activity that depends on the weather. For example, I looked at it yesterday before I was going to wash the vehicles (Good thing I checked since there was a tropical depression impacting our weather) and I will look at it tonight before committing to a long off-road bicycle ride in the morning. I don’t see rain as a reason to … wait for it … dampen my mood. Everywhere has their own weather patterns and in Florida, summer time means hot days and afternoon thunder-storms. One thing I have done recently, I set up weather alerts on my phone so I am aware of any major weather related events since I don’t watch/listen to the “news” either.
Haha, Trey! Love the pun. I too will listen to the weather in I’m planning something outside like you mentioned.
That’s sweet that you set up alerts on your phone. I can see that being very helpful in a place with frequent severe storms. Sounds like you have some pretty cool systems in place. First the news you want via RSS, now weather you want on your phone. I like it.
We only check it for the temperature for our girl when dressing for school. Each night I pull an hourly report for my wife so my daughter is covered from 8am to 3pm….you wouldn’t believe the stress my wife needlessly subjects herself to when it’s cold in the morning and hot by afternoon! I have to remind her that she is actually indoors for 90% of the day.
We don’t watch TV news, but if there is any kind of severe weather, my wife’s parent are sure to call and tell us about it!
Michael,
You’re a pretty detailed guy. 😉 I like it. Hourly reports and specific directions when doing errands.
I can see that it would be helpful to know the day’s weather with dressing a youngster for school. I haven’t had to do that… yet!
If I have something to do outdoors – then I definitely do. Sometimes I just check the local forecast in the morning to know how to dress – but most of the time it’s much more accurate to just wait and look out the window!
Yeah, I hear you, Ann. I enjoy looking out to see what the day will bring as well. It makes me more aware of what’s going on in my day.
Every so often I look on my phone for the weather… For the most part I don’t, and it’s because I have similar philosophies… I like the idea of opening each day like it’s a gift… It makes it fun! 🙂
Nice! Yeah, that fun got me and Jude wet the other day, but you gotta take the good with the bad. So, I’m not complaining.
Amen! Take the good with the bad… We went to a Kenny Chesney concert the other night, and it was Blue Skies and Sunshine at the Tailgate party… I told my wife, Cheryl you know Rain would be really fun right now! She disagreed… 🙂
I’m not going to say that I’m never going to check the weather again…sometimes I still do, but I really like your approach…especially this portion of it: “It’s taught me to look up at the sky more often to see what the day will hold. This results in me appreciating God’s painted canvas in the heavens more often.”
Weather is %100 unpredictable. Anyone who checks it is oblivious. Weather has far more power than us. We cannot predict it. Just go with the flow.