My wife is strange. She actually enjoys the winter. When snow falls, she comments on the beauty of it all, while I bemoan the shoveling, the scraping, and the cold. Not only is it cold, it always seems so dark.
They say the Holidays are the most difficult time of year on families. People are more likely to report feelings of depression in winter than any other time of year.
I blame the moon.
Here in these winter months, it seems that we live lunar lives – there is more darkness than light in our lives. It happens every winter. The sun spends less time in our world this time of year and defers to the floating moon. In fact, experts have found that suicide is highest in the early spring months, but they believe the depression experienced in the winter built up to the suicidal act in the spring.
Apparently there is a certain chemical in our brains called serotonin that affects our emotional health and mood. Serotonin is regulated, in part, by sunlight. When we don’t get much sun, we are more prone to lose energy or suffer bouts of depression. For this reason, some Alaska school districts mandate at least an hour playing beneath a special sun lamp during the dark winter months.
While not entirely sunless, our Michigan winter solstice can be difficult also. The day is short – the night is long. Some people get so overwhelmed by the darkness that they wonder whether they will ever see the sun rise again.
It seems like we are always on one solstice or another. The Summer solstice is the longest day of the year. The active life can run unchecked for hours longer than usual. Here in Michigan, darkness may cover our area for only about 8 hours. These are times for the manic – full of light and serotonin.
But that is June, and this is January. It seems like a long time to wait. Our reality is grey for now. With envy, we have to watch sporting events in exotic tropical places – full of light and hope. Meanwhile, we are here with the snow and the lunar grey.
In these times, the day is short and the light is rare, but it is no less real. The reality of this light should cause us to use it well. Instead of bemoaning its brevity, let us celebrate the day while it is with us.
The next time snow falls, my wife will tell me about the beauty of it all. Instead of bemoaning the shoveling, the scraping, and the cold, I should just clear my driveway in the light that I have. And if the day lasts, I should shovel my neighbor’s as well or help someone in need. For, the day only lasts so long in these dark times.
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer” – Albert Camus
