Finding the Light Within Darkness

I’m wondering how many of you woke up this morning and had to double check the new reality. Was it 8 am or really 7 am? Did you forget to move the clock back an hour? If you’re like me, it takes a minute to regroup. Today marks the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2025 which means it will get darker earlier well into December. Sunset is scheduled to occur at 5:33 pm today. I mean, that’s technically still the afternoon for goodness sakes.

For those like me who are renewed by sunshine and warmth, the onset of darker days and cooler temperatures requires a bit of reset. Not that I have much choice in the matter, but I’m not really a fan of either more cold or less light. Therefore, revisiting the advantages of darkness is a good exercise in maintaining a positive attitude.

There are some who welcome shorter daylight hours. For them, the season of darkness means cooking hearty stews all afternoon, less hustle and bustle, and more quiet time to infuse simpleness into self-imposed hectic schedules. Sometimes we have a hard time giving ourselves permission to slow down. Today, however, offers a chance to revisit the quest for meaning as we adjust to less light.

Some might argue that early sunsets mean more cozy. Because the next several months combine shorter days with colder temperatures, people might find opportunities to snuggle beneath blankets or curl up with a good book. Or perhaps wrapping yourself in a warm scarf for an early evening walk beneath the stars might invite opportunities to appreciate the twinkling marvel as we look up. Cloudless night skies can be magical and instill a sense of wonder. Even the glow of moonshine can be breathtaking. Follow such a stroll with a cup of hot tea and all might just feel magnificent.

I’ve also found that increase in darkness creates space to explore creativity. Some people set up the paint easel. Others sharpen the woodworking tools. I’m thinking about the pile of fabric I have in the upstairs closet ready to cut and quilt together. Regardless of artistic expression, the hankering to create is a good byproduct of this season. Just in time to think about DIY Christmas gifts, right?

Perhaps most transformative is the fact that the absence of light can allow space for introspection. When nightfall descends, silence can be calmed by stillness whereby opening space for new thoughts. How many times does inspiration find you while waiting to fall asleep at night? Freedom might be created to dream and stretch our minds outwards towards expanded possibilities.

Have you ever thought about how complimentary light is with dark? Light becomes even more radiant when pierced through darkness. You could even say that darkness of the soul or adversity in life breed the brightest resilience of the human spirit. It’s as if light needs dark in order to shine brightest.  Even a single candle flicker can be a powerful reminder of how light can lead the way through dark times.

So, despite my grumpy state this morning, I’m challenged with a choice. I can either live in sweat pants until mid-January, or I can embrace the opportunities see more clearly and hear more keenly as darkness takes more of a hold of our days. I’m confident in my ability to embrace this time. After all, if you live long enough, eventually you’ll learn that it’s in the midst of darkness where the greatest hope can be found. So, lets not be afraid of the darkness, because therein lives the light.