Yes, I also think it is fair to assume that at some point in everyone's life, we must have been drenched by the rain, even if it happened once.
I have been beaten and drenched by the rain many times. Some of those times, it caught me unaware while others I intentionally entered the rain because I had no choice.
I worked as a gym instructor a year ago. Upon joining the gym, I was given a book to read which contained the gym rules and regulations.
One thing I recall my ex-boss saying was that a heavy downpour was not an excuse or a reason for any of her employees to come late to work or miss work that day. Doing any of those would result in a penalty fee.
When I started my job, I always made sure to keep my gym records clean. I also avoided going to the gym after 6:30 a.m. when the gym resumes.
Though it was challenging at that time because I lived far from the gym. To get to the gym early, I always woke up on time and left the house on time.
Also, I reasoned with my boss and tried to understand why she stands by the rule that no one must arrive late at the gym center even in the face of heavy downpours. A majority of the gym's clients own cars, and they do not mind driving to the gym when it rains to exercise.
That very day, I woke up early and got ready for work. A few minutes before leaving the house for work, it began to rain heavily.
After watching the rain for a while, I hoped it would have diminished by the time I was ready to leave, but it didn't. Because of the downpour, I had to pick up my phone, call the manager, and inform her that I might be a bit late.
I've heard you, but you need to figure out how to get here on time", she replied.
I felt at ease for a while knowing that I had informed the manager that I would arrive late at the gym center.
After a short time, I began to feel uncomfortable again and I could see that the rain would not stop even if I waited for an hour.
As soon as I realized the rain had diminished, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my shower cap, and went to work. Despite the rain, I was determined to make it to work.
After stepping outside the gate, it began to rain heavily again. I was wondering if the rain had been waiting for me to come out to start its second round. The most frustrating part of it all was that I had no umbrella, other than my shower cap.
I noticed as I approached the bus stop where I would take a vehicle that the road was already flooded. I was already dreading the journey ahead of me, knowing that I would be soaked from the moment I stepped out of the house.
In the cold rain, there were no vehicles on the road. As a result, I had to wait 30 minutes for a vehicle that would take me to the next bus stop, where I would take another vehicle to the gym.
I shivered from the cold and dampness, but I eventually found a ride and made it to the gym in time for my class.
By the time I got to the gym, clients were already working out and their cars were evidently parked outside the gym center.
The manager commended my effort in getting to the gym as soon as I could. She also complimented me because I didn't use the rain as an excuse to stay away from work.
I was so cold that I couldn't take the clients to aerobics class that day because I shivered a lot; I didn't even wear a sweater to work that day, instead, I just folded myself in my chair to keep warm.
I tried to bear it, but it didn't work. I approached the manager to ask for her thick sweater, which she readily offered. She told me to take it.
Taking the sweater, I wore it, and I removed a methylated rub for my legs and hands so I could feel warm. After doing that, I sat down at my desk, hoping I would be warm soon.
However, I didn't realize when I slept off and woke up almost an hour later. All of the clients had already left, except for one who kept working out.
My manager didn't bother to wake me up that morning, and that must have been one of the best things that happened to me that day. She was probably being considerate.
As a result of the cold, I shivered so much that day, but I made it to work.
Gif edited on Canva
Images are mine