Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Yesterday was rainy, and this morning is foggy. The afternoon drizzle began when I was in Costco’s parking area, transferring a month’s worth of supplies from my shopping cart into the Jeep. I shielded several of the more vulnerable items against that misty air and cool dampness but got everything loaded, slammed the trunk shut, and headed home. I unloaded there, thankful for having completed the shopping and getting everything home, mostly dry.

The current changes, both to daylight savings time and the visible start of spring, are mood-boosters–and also a little disorienting. I’m surprised to sense that some “routine things” are slightly out of whack. For example, yesterday evening, I found myself adjusting as the sun dipped low, but daylight still lingered. It seemed forever since I had fed horses without needing a headlamp or flashlight. I can become accustomed to longer, lighter days and routine chores becoming more effortless. Welcome changes!

I try to understand better the ways routine light and time changes affect us. I’ve learned that decreasing daylight encourages our bodies to produce more melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleepiness. That makes us feel more sluggish during shorter winter days. In contrast, longer spring daylights decrease our melatonin production and make us feel more energetic.

It’s a cold and gloomy spring day outside. I must get ready to go to work.

Dear Friends: Enjoy this welcome transition, ahead of all bright and warm. Diana