Although it’s still February and the temperatures in Madison didn’t exceed 35 degrees this week, we did have some great days of sunshine. I think everyone’s moods here improved with the sunny days and I know it certainly brought some optimism to my week.
It is remarkable how sunshine can positively affect our well-being. I don’t know all the background science, but sunshine and outdoor light is linked to our mood, energy, sleep and more. Some people experience SAD or seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that typically onsets in the darker winter months.
Thinking big picture, the sustenance we get from sunshine is just a little “taste” of how it sustains life on our planet. Next time I’m out enjoying the sunshine, I hope to feel that connection to the world all around me that is soaking up the same rays.