Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

The first things that come to mind when asked about the Pacific Northwest are somewhat stereotypical — trees, coffee, cult classics like Twilight and Grey’s Anatomy and the inevitable rainy sky. 

Taken at face value, all of these subcomponents of Pacific Northwest society seem one-dimensional, however, our little corner of the world has a rich, encompassing culture, filled to the brim with small moments of joy. In a place where cloudy days consume 222 days of the year, we have managed to create a special space where art, caffeine and the environment coincide to procure the comfortable place we all call home.

We are approaching those times now. The residents of the Northwest are prone to seasonal depression — most of the time shut in by circumstance. As a result, we create sanctuaries to nurture our minds and enjoy the creative and diverse individuals around us. Locals light up indoor spaces with their art. Social events, clubs, family and friends tuck us into close proximity, making our days just a little more bright. Our region’s rich and deeply enmeshed relationship with coffee brings many of us warmth and energy. 

Many of us line our rooms with plants, real or fake, to bring the outdoors to our bedside. Many of us watch comfort shows, and to no surprise, a few of those hit close to home. Movies like Sleepless in Seattle, The Twilight Saga, Ten Things I Hate About You, Halloweentown and The Goonies show off our little corner of the world, and we find solace in our sparse representation. 

Although the population of this area is vast and numerous, our cities and towns remain close. There is a sense of togetherness when the rain drones on for days because we know that it is dancing on everyone’s rooftop, muddying every shoe that steps outside. Millions of people ordering coffee from their favorite shop; millions of paintings and posters lining the walls of shops and institutions; millions of warm moments spent with those who are close to us — 

While we cherish those times when the sun shows herself, we do not need her to create light for us. We can do that for ourselves.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu