On Shorter Days

By Dr. Glenn Fox, C4 Foundation Chief Science Officer

There are good reasons for the holidays to take place during October to December. Long, warm, and sunny, afternoons from August offered plenty of time to play outside, but they were short on the evening times for rest and reflection. Thanks to the wavering tilt of the earth, our hemisphere is now pitching away from the sun, rendering our days shorter, and the chances for rest and reflection longer.

We miss the long days, but we need to remember that there are still 24 hours in a day, and we still have the opportunity to get the most out of each one. This is probably why so many celebrations and holidays can and should take place in the winter. What better time to stare aimlessly at a fire, have a long phone call, bake something in the oven, and share a moment with friends and family (however distant they may be this year). So while we may lament the long nights and some of the stressors we’re facing, it is worth remembering that those types of feelings are also an appropriate time to reflect and savor.
This year in particular, we should fight the urge to feel the pandemic fatigue, and just wish for all the time to go by without all the pain and social distance. The holidays happen regardless of whether it has been an easy year or a tough one. That is by design. It reminds us that we all deserve the opportunity to reflect and savor no matter the circumstance. If we cannot feel great in the moment, we can try to remember a time when we did, or look forward to a time that we will, and we can do whatever we like to make these exact moments as meaningful as they can be. If we’ve been having a good stretch of easy living, then all the more reason to celebrate and savor. Here’s wishing everyone in our C4 Foundation Family a full, meaningful, and optimistic holiday season. Time to get cozy.
Written By: Glenn R. Fox, PhD

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