Sunshine

I am blessed to live in a climate that is sunny most of the year. I know that I am blessed because I have lived in the rainy northwest for most of my life. Believe me, the dark dreary days get old! Here in Sacramento, winter lasts about 2 ½ months. We’re nearing the end right now, and I am ready for sun! Those few weeks of dreary days are just enough of winter for me.

Of course, there are also days during the heart of summer when I wish I could wake up to the sound of rain. Or sometimes I feel like it would be nice to have a dark, cloudy day where I can light candles and curl up with a book all day. Cloudy weather can be a good excuse to hibernate, which is sometimes exactly what I feel like doing!

But here in Sacramento I usually wake up to a cloudless day. And usually, I am glad the skies are blue and I love the surge of energy a sunny day brings. The sun gives you a swift kick and tells you to keep moving, even when you don’t feel like it. When I wake up to a sunny day, it’s almost hard not to stay active.

There are friends who are much like a motivating sunny day. They say just the right words of encouragement; they check up on me; they bump me out of a gloomy mood. Sometimes when I’m striving alone to accomplish a goal, it’s discouraging. Even overwhelming. A friend’s encouragement can make the difference between whether I have a renewed determination, or give up altogether. I am so glad for those people who bring sunshine to my life.