Let the Light In

“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold.” -Maud Hart Lovelace

As I’m writing this, the sun is out. The door is open (a crack). It’s not at all what you’d call “warm” and yet…there’s the promise of warmth as the day gets a little older.

But the thing I’m noticing the most? The light. It’s bright. It’s golden. It’s consistently present; I know it’ll be here for the whole day today – and that constant is a comfort.

I don’t know about you, but when there’s more light in the day – and when the light lasts longer during the day – my physical body feels…buoyant. Agile. Nimble. When there’s more light around you, don’t you feel…LIGHTER? I do.

And life feels EASIER, too. Your  head is clear, your laugh comes easier, you remember to breathe deeply and stand up and stretch. What is it about LIGHT that makes everything feel more…possible? Why does light have such an impact on our heads and on our hearts?

I was thinking about light a lot this spring. Let’s face it. April was…gross. It was dark and cold and wet where I live. And, yes, sure, that’s necessary to bring on the plants and the grass and the trees. I respect that and appreciate that and understand that. But living through that cold, damp, darkness day after day after day after day … it was really challenging this year. I had to WORK to get through each day…and I had to work hard to remind myself that the light WOULD come back. Eventually.

I got through it by pondering what it IS that light brings to our lives.

First, the anticipation! Thinking about the fact that summer WOULD come, that warmth would arrive, that the days would be longer, the evenings gracious, and the nights short…that anticipation was incredible. Something to look forward to, for sure.

Anticipating the warmth and light makes us feel more alive, more aware, and, frankly, more ENGAGED with the people and experiences around us. Soon, I thought, I’ll be able to put on a t-shirt WITHOUT a sweatshirt and jacket on top. Soon, I promised myself, I’d be riding my bike around the lakes and ENJOYING the gentle breeze. Soon, I’d walk with a friend and my shoulders WOULDN’T be hunched up around my ears.

Glorious!

Second, the light, when it arrives, encourages a natural sort of gratitude. Who ISN’T grateful for more light after months of darkness and cold? This isn’t to say, of course, that there’s not beauty and necessity in the months of hibernation and rest. That’s necessary and wonderful. But when the darkness finally breaks and the light shines more strongly – the absolute GRATITUDE it brings is just inspiring. Everything is EASIER. Everything is BRIGHTER. I am grateful for all of it.

Finally, more light equals more TIME. Suddenly, you don’t have to rush to get everything done and to get home before it gets dark. You have more time to work and think and play and exist. And that feels like an incredible gift.

As we get ready to celebrate the longest day of the year – the day with the most light – I hope you’ll take a few moments and think about all the things the light brings to you. Warmth, time, gratitude…celebrate it all and enjoy the light.