The Influence of Weather

Having recently experienced, first-hand, “blizzard of the century” in the Northeast, weather has been on my mind and has made me realize that weather can be a great influence on individuals, on businesses, and on communities. 

Let’s start with community-building.   Although the circumstances were not what I would have "chosen," it was wonderful seeing all of my neighbors out at the same time - shoveling out cars.  We’ve never done anything as a group before and it became a time of socializing and communication, in addition to the drudgery of moving snow.   I couldn’t believe how much easier it was to stick with the laborious chore as soon as I started talking to my next-door-neighbor.   We all came together for those few brief hours – our
"community" coalescing a direct result of the weather.  

Turning to business, weather can influence in more nefarious ways.  Hurricanes and blizzards shut down businesses recently, which affects the economy and people’s incomes.   Even outside the "business" world, weather affects how our food is produced and the price of agricultural goods – bad weather in states such as Florida and California can swing prices drastically.  Those prices can then affect other products as well, such as the price of feed, for instance.

   

Weather can be more subtle, too, especially when it comes to how it affects individuals.  As someone who grew up in the Northeast, I remember how difficult it was to be in class, thinking about schoolwork, in the spring.   My mind wandered outdoors and away from my lessons.   The same happens with work: people tend to be more productive on rainy days than sunny days.  Changes in weather and atmospheric conditions can hurt people’s health, also.  There are smoggy days in some cities when it’s dangerous to breathe the outside air, and those with asthma are affected by both smog and changes in temperatures, and are told to be careful or stay indoors.  

It’s clear that weather has influence over all of us in many ways…  How does weather influence you, at home, or at work?