Let There Be Light

Sunrise? Sunset?

What is it with humans and light? We joke about bugs being drawn to any light source, but really, we're not that different.

I'm old enough to remember when Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was first recognized as an actual condition, and I've known several people in my life who use a lamp in the winter to fight it.

There are whose who mock the whole thing, as though people who succumb to SAD are just a pansy-assed group of wimps.

But if we think about it honestly, I believe each of us find ourself seeking out light in our own life. And I'm not being metaphorical here. I mean actual light.

Light is a huge factor in painting, photography, all of the arts.

And scientifically speaking, we humans were not engineered to function very well in the dark. Sunlight brought clarity, warmth, and safety.

Night? Well, night is dark. And scary. Cold and long.

Even though I'm a night owl, I've been drawn to light my whole life. I can never stop myself from glancing in the windows of houses I drive by at night; they always seem so warm and inviting.

I'm infatuated with candles, and twinkling lights of any sort. I love driving toward a city at night, its skyline lit up with the possibility of what might be going on behind each one of those glowing windows.

As a child, my favorite part of driving home from my grandma's was the approach to the George Washington Bridge at night, its spectacularly shining arches spanning the Hudson as we headed back to New Jersey from the Bronx.

But I'm picky with my light. It can't be flashing like a strobe light, or too bright as in fluorescent. When energy-saving bulbs first appeared I balked at their abrasiveness and wouldn't use them in the parts of my house where I spent the most time. Fortunately, they've gotten better.

I need my light to be soft and inviting, to wrap itself gently about me, not knock me around the room with its harshness.

What I liked most about camping was always the campfire. And here on the Vineyard, my favorite part of a great beach party is, without a doubt, the bonfire at the end of the night.

Flames are mesmerizing. Light come to life.

Perhaps this is on my mind because the days are slowly getting longer. A little more light, a little more hope, each day.

How about you? Do you find yourself affected by light, or lack of it? Are you a moth, like me, or do you run for cover, a true creature of the night?

 

 

Comments

[SuziCate]

Beautiful post from a lovely soul! I live and breathe these words,thanks Maureen.

[Julie]

The light on Martha's Vineyard has always seemed remarkable to me, the way shadows fall across the fields along the North Road at dusk or sunrise in the Vineyard Haven harbor. I recognized it in a Winslow Homer painting where it was described as "marine Light". I can't explain it, but the quality of light on the land and sea there has a particular beauty that stuns me every time I return.

[Erica@PinesLakeRedhead]

Oh, I've always loved the light. It's very hard for me to get up while it's still dark outside. But the reward is seeing the sunrise. Thinking of some of my favorite paintings... the way the artist captured the light is what attracts me to the pieces.

[Vincent]

Having checked my Testosterone at the door, I'm putting in a word for those cut-glass drops from a chandelier that you hang in the window. Now let me outa here quick ! :).

[Sprite's Keeper]

While I've always loved the light, I actually enjoy the twilight more, when the sun isn't demanding all the attention and the colors are muted and soft.

[Mama Badger]

We were just talking about this very thing this morning. All of the wonderful sunlight last week made us happy and cheerful. The rain this weekend was like a betrayal, and we were all grumpy (the kids most of all).

Lighting is very important, though. There are whole degrees at universities where people study only lighting (I participated on one based on how productive people in cubes are under different typed of flourescent light!).

[Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt]

I love light. I think that is one of the main reasons I am such a morning person. I love the gradual increase in light as the morning evolves. I love the newness of the day that the light brings. I just love it! Beautiful post.

[Kristina P.]

Absolutely. Last summer, I had to work the swing shift and we had HORRIBLE lighting. It really, really affected me. I wanted to ask for natural light lamps, but fortunately, I went back to my usual office.

[LPC]

Beautiful. I feel like a butterfly sometimes, just stopping and standing there to feel the sun, the same way butterflies open their wings on flowers.

[Erin]

I am with you, but I'm picky about my light. Bright sunlight is too much for me. I like things to be muted.
I never have the overheads in my classroom - fluorescent
lighting is too much. We go with natural light thru the windows or table lamps.
Great post. xo

[Jen @ lifelove'n'wine]

I adore the light. I wouldn't go so far as to say I have SAD, but I do feel a lot more down and less active in the dark, cold, winter months. Last weekend was the first sunny, warm weekend we'd had in months and I spent much of it outside. I actually felt giddy I was so happy to feel the sun on my skin again.

[Heather]

I love light. I always have a night light on in each room.

If we weren't light creatures, then we wouldn't have windows in our houses to let the light in.

Great post!

[Jane]

Like you, I am a moth. I love light. Any place I live MUST have lots and lots of windows. And like you, I rejected energy saving lightbulbs when they first appeared on the market - too harsh and fluorescent-like. They ARE better but my reading lamps still have conventional bulbs - I just haven't been able to make to total switch!

[Jill]

I'm very affected by it. We had a beautiful weekend...sunshine and temps in the 70's...now it's in the 40's and drizzling. I have a list with 9 things to do and I just can't get motivated...at all! I'm thinking about waiting till tomorrow.

[Jan]

Suffering from SAD myself - something that never bothered me before I moved from sunny northern Texas to gloomy northeast Ohio, one of the cloudiest regions in the country - I am most definitely affected by the lack of it. When I retire, I moving to the desert. I want sunshine, and LOTS of it.

[Linda at Bar Mitzvahzilla]

Well, being in bright, hot, sunny Arizona, light is not normally a problem outdoors or flooding the house, the problem is the kinds of unnatural light there may be. I also can't stand flickering, strobe-type light, or any bare bulbs. They feel like they burn right through to my brain! And night owl too here!

[terry]

I love the light, too. But in summer I must admit that I crave for a little firelight.

There is nothing like a beautiful summer day that ends with a glorious sunset. But then too, a candle light on a snowy night makes me feel at peace as well.

But then I grew up in L.A. so what do I know about the lack of sunlight?

[TheKitchenWitch]

NEED the light but like you, am picky about it. Nothing to blinding--which is kind of hilarious since I live a mile higher than altitude...

But soft light? Nothing better. I always tell hubs that I look much better in dim light...:)

[Gropius]

A beautiful post. I love it in the metaphorical sense too! For some reason, I love the feeling of sun on my skin after I've had exposure--even if it's a little burned. This should be a big no-no for a fair-skinned red head, but I'm the first to admit that it makes me feel healthy. Fire light is so enticing as well. The only light I hate are the artificial overhead lights of presentation halls and school classrooms. Hate 'em!

[Bumby Scott]

Two Thumbs Up.

Always Bumby

[Twenty Four At Heart]

Light? What light? It was 80 here today and the most spectacular day imaginable. It's why I live where I do ....

[Tracie]

I need lots of light. I would love to have a house with huge windows and sunlight streaming in. I get a little down in the winter and I think it has something to do with the dark days.

[Jen]

I function much better during light hours. I tried to live in Seattle but couldn't make it beyond ten months. How people live out there with all that rain and so little sun I will never understand. I am so happy the days are getting longer. There is something about the dark that is scary. As soon as the light comes up I don't feel nearly as vulnerable.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

I definitely need the light--as soon the day gets longer my energy level goes through the roof. My house has huge windows and I don't even have window treatments on a lot of the windows--the more light the better.

I'm also a candle person--love the soft glow.

[Aidan Donnelley Rowley @ Ivy League Insecurities]

I don't think I have given this too much thought before, but, yes, light affects me. Greatly. On days like today - where the world is dark and soggy, I have a hard time finding energy and momentum. Good thing we are putting TONS of lighting in our new home!

[Jason]

If I lived anywhere north of here, I would definitely develop SAD. I live in Sunny SoCal and I LOVE the sunshine. On our five cloudy days I just don't feel everything's right with the world.

[jessica]

oh Lord do I. I agree. I need light to wrap me in its warmth. I could never live in a rainy climate. Ever (gave you some loving over at my post today, it was addition, go back and take a look)

[She Writes]

I am very attracted to all kinds of light!

[Braja]

I could write a book about light....

:)

[Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings]

A warm glow of light...yes, I like that kind of light. I am a night person as well, but yes, I see what you mean about being drawn to the light..looking to see what is happening in people's homes. People like you and me are why I close my blinds at night :-)

[Soundbounder]

The older I get, the more I have come to appreciate the morning light.

[Peggy]

I am a sister moth... drawn to the flame!

My ex-boss suffered from SAD. People who haven't been around it truly can;t comprehend how debilitating it can be. (i'm sure I misspelled that)

Thanks for the lovely post. I drank in your words.

[BumbleVee]

Personally I love candle light....it hides a multitude of wrinkles !!

[BigLittleWolf]

I love this post. I also remember that by every March, living in New England, I was horribly depressed. I love to walk, miles, and the New England winters made that very difficult. But more so, the cold and darkness left me feeling listless.

I moved far enough south 20 years ago to still retain all four seasons (I love the east coast seasons), but not to suffer a 5 or 6 month winter. The change was dramatic. Night and day, literally. The depression that I suffered for a good 2 months of every year simply disappeared.

I think all creatures (and flowers!) turn toward the light. And I'm a believer in SAD as a real thing, and in the nature of light (and warmth) as sources of healing and enhanced mood.

(And thank you for your lovely remarks, by the way, over at Kristen's place.)

[kathryn]

Lovely post, sweetie! Who could NOT love the warm, radiant glow of the morning sun streaming through the window? I almost wept with relief when I saw the first rays of the sun this morning...it had been almost a week without it here.

I love the way Metro finds the patch of sun and stretches out in it...his black fur warming up almost instantly. My little electric-puppy...

[dreamfarmgirl]

Great post! I heard just the other day that scientists theorize the reason for SAF is that biologically speaking, in winter, humans needed to do a mild sort of hibernation -- slow down, not burn too many calories, because food sources were low. Hence, we get that dreary feeling on dreary days. Makes sense. In any case, the lack of light in winter can get me down after too many days. And though I think daylight savings time came a tad too early this year, I am grateful to have a little extra sunlight after the workday.

[dreamfarmgirl]

oops--can't type! I meant SAD.

[Kristen @ Motherese]

I absolutely embrace the light. I feel something chemical shift inside of me when the days get longer and when the sun emerges after countless cloudy days. (These days, however, the sudden presence of sunshine at my boys' bedtime is making things a little tricky on the home front!)

Beautiful post, Maureen. Wonderfully written!

[Old School/ New School Mom]

SADD is no joke! There are so many things missing from the winter that make it difficult to function. My personal theory is that the absence of smell makes us feel down. In the spring and summer there are a plethora of smells that make us feel good. In the winter most everything smells the same.

[suburbancorrespondent]

It was our first sunny day here in forever, and we almost went crazy. It felt so good!

[Lynn]

I worked for a clinic where the docs had lots of patients with vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sunlight. They'd always prescribe supplementation and to get outside in the sun (wearing a hat, of course!). We're living critters, and all living things need a certain amount of sun. When the sun shines, the world smiles.

[~The South Dakota Cowgirl~]

You write the best blogs! I love light- but then for what I do, being outside and all with the horses and cows all day, I can't wait for summer, when it doesn't get dark until 10pm; when I can very easily put in a 12 hour day and come in at night smelling of grass and horses and fall into bed exhausted, and ecstatic to get to do it again the next day. Winter just depresses me- though I do love candles and a blazing fire. And I hate to admit this- but I love the temperature change too!