.png){kind=logo}
At 4:47 PM sharp, a smiling sun dips below the horizon, golden rays painting the sky in pink and purple hues. Don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for sunsets… just NOT at 4:47 PM in the afternoon. I drag myself to school in the dark and speed home with shadows as my unwanted accomplices. As much as I want to lasso the sun and tug it into the sky, my noodle arms would do little to stop the inevitable. Admittedly, a handful of people prefer a lifestyle of darkness. When asked about the sun setting early, senior Jayden Lee had one word: “Incredible.”
Like Lee, some people thrive with dilated pupils and stale, frozen air. But whether I like it or not, my serotonin levels are heavily dependent on the blazing ball of gas 98 million miles away. Over three million Americans deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression onset by winter seasons.
With a lack of sunlight as the typical culprit, what solutions do we have? Even on the day of winter solstice, the sun peeks out for a few hours. Take advantage of that time and get outdoors. Tear down those thick curtains and let as much light seep into your house as possible. Most importantly, keep in touch with friends and family. We can face the shadows of winter, together.
