Woot! December 21!

[Micca]

I used to hate short, dark, cold winter days. I'm still not a fan, but since I don't need to leave the house most days... I do take Vitamin D, but it's on the advice of my doc.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I take Vitamin D year-round. Autumn is my favorite season, so it's a bit sad for it to end.

 

[leebee]

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Christmas festivities to bring you this important message: Happy Winter Solstice! Even though winter “officially” starts today, here in the northern part of the world it’s already been wintery for almost two months and the short daylight hours and long, dark nights take their toll. In the most northerly regions of Canada it never gets fully light at this time of year and where I am, it will be 9:00 am before the sun is up and pitch dark again before 5:00 pm. During work weeks I can go days without ever being out in the light. I don’t personally suffer clinical symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder but I know people who do and it’s very difficult.

As of tomorrow, daylight hours start gradually getting longer. Even though the worst of our harsh weather is yet to come (snow, cold and wind are brutal in January and February) it’s somehow made a little more bearable. Hope rises and spirits lift - the perfect little addition to this festive season. Best wishes to everyone and may your celebrations be merry and BRIGHT!

We are in pretty much the same situation, except sunrise is around 7am and sunset a bit before 4pm (Eastern Standard Time). Also, the harshest of the winter is yet to come, and I am not looking forward to it. Fortunately the shortened light doesn't bother me, and I do like to come home, cook supper, and settle in with a blanket and cup of tea!

 

[easyas123]

I think I enjoy all the seasons and the differences in them…right now what I enjoy about the shorter days is the cozy evenings. Light a fire in the fireplace, dogs settled down in front of it. Sometimes we skip the tv and put on music-especially during the holiday season. Pour a glass of wine and enjoy a bit of a quiet chat.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I actually start getting a little sad about the shorter days as August starts to wind down and we're sitting out on the patio and it gets dark so much quicker than it did the month before. I start realizing we have few opportunities for evenings out there before the cold weather comes and all the flowers close up shop for the year.

This is me as well.

We have a place on the lake and during June and July we'll be on our deck or even swimming until sunset or after. By mid to late August the sun sets so much earlier. Always makes me sad.

I really don't like the super short days this time of year, but it doesn't make me depressed.

 

[slo]

I voted “other”

I have a like/dislike feeling about this topic….

*I like it when it gets dark out early because it’s nice being shut in the house earlier. When it’s light out until 8:00pm I’m doing stuff outside after dinner - less time to relax. I also like it because I sleep better at night - I think it’s because of having more relaxation time - I work on my puzzles, read or watch TV with DH - I do very little of this when it’s light out until 8/8:30pm since we go to bed at 10:00pm.

*I dislike it because I feel so sleepy early in the evening. The dark makes my brain think it’s bedtime and I feel sluggish & tired. I doze off in front of the TV easier, which is annoying.

*I never feel depressed - our Northern Indiana cloudy days do that to me, which happens a lot this time of year. The continuous cloudy days are the worst!

 

[MamaMermaid]

I don't like when it's dark so early Thankfully I'm in FL and we have a lot of sunshine during the day. I've spent many winter breaks visiting family in WV/OH and am always shocked at how GRAY it is; I can't imagine that being the norm daily AND it also getting so dark so soon!