Blog #9
April 11th, 2011
La primavera porta il sole
The spring has arrived, in more ways than one. As if someone flipped a switch, the sun appeared, the flowers are blooming, and all is right in Piacenza. The streets are filled with the hustle and bustle of people; families with strollers, couples holding hands, and old ladies wearing so much clothing that just looking at them makes me sweat. They have no final destination, no list of chores for the day, they’re just going….somewhere, eventually.
I’ve never appreciated weather so much before. Everything is brighter and optimistic. People even seem nicer. And daily living and getting around is so much easier. While half of it is just perception, there’s some truth to the theory that the sun can improve your quality of life. Studies show that some people are prone to feeling restless and hopeless due to lack of exposure to the sun’s rays. I know personally my physical activity level dramatically decreases and I’m less likely to socialize with others.
This kind of exposure to light triggers our body’s to release healthy levels of serotonin making it easier for us to maintain a happy mood and a state of equilibrium. I believe this balance touches all aspects of our lives; school, work, relationships. This is one of the reasons I prefer to live in a geographic area that has four seasons. If we had sunshine and warmth all year long, the effects of summer and spring would diminish. I’ve always believed the saying “the shadow proves the sunshine”. In other words, without times of darkness, struggle, and reflection in our lives, we wouldn’t appreciate the light and joy to their full extent.
Now how does this all affect me? Did the sun make all my problems vanish and make Italy so much easier? No, of course not. But it’s amazing how shedding a little ‘light’ on a situation or problem can make it that much easier to take on. And a tan and new smile on my face doesn’t hurt either :-)
Jackie <3
No comments:
Post a Comment