We’ve had some really cold, frosty mornings this week, which are always a bit of a hurdle for a body that reacts strongly to the cold. But I noticed something as I stood outside the other day: these mornings give us blue skies we just don’t get in summer. They're a deeper, clearer blue.
That colour does something for us. Blue light — the natural kind we get from the sky — helps regulate our circadian rhythms, support alertness, and lift our mood. Even a few minutes of looking up at a bright blue sky sends a signal through our eyes to our brains that strengthens our body’s daytime systems. It’s subtle, but it gives us a small lift just when the shorter days and long nights start to pull us down.
I’ve found myself thinking that perhaps this is one of those small things the Divine wove in on purpose — a quiet boost for us at this dark, difficult time of year. The deep blue of the sky, the sudden brightness on frozen mornings, the red berries on the holly tree catching the light… little markers of warmth and steadiness threaded through the colder, darker season.
A very warm welcome! I’m really glad you found your way here, and that the piece on gratitude met you at the right moment. It’s a lovely thing to hear.
Thank you for your kind wishes, and I’m sending wishes for a peaceful, gentle Thanksgiving weekend your way as well.
Well, gotta say that THIS is very good news, indeed!!!
"Turns Out Fighting Fascism Helps You Live Longer"
"A January study in the journal Social Science & Medicine found that volunteering slows down aging in retirees: the DNA of people who volunteered the equivalent of one to four hours a week showed distinctive biomarkers associated with decelerated epigenetic aging, with the most pronounced effects among retired people."
Please, never forget that you give people (and not just me) hope every single day. (And most days, it is VERY welcome!)
Thank you, Lori. (I'm feeling surprisingly better than I expected to, considering. I'll be OK, I think. I'm even seriously considering acquiring a new kitten for Chiquita!)
I'm grateful to wake up every day....alive. Admittedly, for me at least, the sense of aliveness didn't really kick in until retirement a few years ago. My advice to folks is to look around, breath, say hello to strangers, look at the sky, the ocean. When I stay grounded in these basics, it's a good day.
I’m right there with you W.J. I feel the same sense of gratitude each morning, and I’ve noticed it deepening as time passes.
Stepping away from work does seem to strip away a lot of the noise, right? Suddenly the simple things — a patch of blue sky, the wind bringing the smells of the sea, a warm smile and a word to someone you won't meet again — feel like they matter far more than all the rushing about ever did.
I am grateful that we celebrated our Thanksgiving Day early, with blessings enough to afford a lovely celebratory meal and enough groceries saved to join the Economic Blackout from now through Cyber Monday! I wish good health and good spirits to you all, brave defenders of democracy!
You're welcome Elaine. I’m glad you had a quiet moment to ease into the day.😊 I hope this piece brings your husband even a little comfort or a fresh way of looking at things — living with constant pain is such a heavy load to carry.
Sending you both warm wishes for a bit of gentleness over the days ahead.
We’ve had some really cold, frosty mornings this week, which are always a bit of a hurdle for a body that reacts strongly to the cold. But I noticed something as I stood outside the other day: these mornings give us blue skies we just don’t get in summer. They're a deeper, clearer blue.
That colour does something for us. Blue light — the natural kind we get from the sky — helps regulate our circadian rhythms, support alertness, and lift our mood. Even a few minutes of looking up at a bright blue sky sends a signal through our eyes to our brains that strengthens our body’s daytime systems. It’s subtle, but it gives us a small lift just when the shorter days and long nights start to pull us down.
I’ve found myself thinking that perhaps this is one of those small things the Divine wove in on purpose — a quiet boost for us at this dark, difficult time of year. The deep blue of the sky, the sudden brightness on frozen mornings, the red berries on the holly tree catching the light… little markers of warmth and steadiness threaded through the colder, darker season.
What a beautiful thing to notice! It's still sunny and warm here, but the blue does electrify when winter finally arrives.
As I'm still rather new to this platform, finding your substack with the article about gratitude was exactely what I needed this morning.
Thankyou, and a peaceful Thanksgiving to all of you.
A very warm welcome! I’m really glad you found your way here, and that the piece on gratitude met you at the right moment. It’s a lovely thing to hear.
Thank you for your kind wishes, and I’m sending wishes for a peaceful, gentle Thanksgiving weekend your way as well.
There's no Thanksgiving in Germany, from where I write.
There is no day dedicated to gratitude, and gratitude is rarely expressed in words. It is understood more as an acknowledgement of debt.
It would be nice to have a day of gratitude though.
It might help to add humility to an often rude and loud-mouthed people.
Well, gotta say that THIS is very good news, indeed!!!
"Turns Out Fighting Fascism Helps You Live Longer"
"A January study in the journal Social Science & Medicine found that volunteering slows down aging in retirees: the DNA of people who volunteered the equivalent of one to four hours a week showed distinctive biomarkers associated with decelerated epigenetic aging, with the most pronounced effects among retired people."
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/11/retirees-volunteering-election-democracy-study-health/
Thanks for making me smile, F&C. If standing up to fascists happens to help us live a bit longer, that’s a bit of good news I’m very happy to take!
Lori,
Please, never forget that you give people (and not just me) hope every single day. (And most days, it is VERY welcome!)
Thank you, Lori. (I'm feeling surprisingly better than I expected to, considering. I'll be OK, I think. I'm even seriously considering acquiring a new kitten for Chiquita!)
Thank you F&C — you warmed my heart.
I'm grateful to wake up every day....alive. Admittedly, for me at least, the sense of aliveness didn't really kick in until retirement a few years ago. My advice to folks is to look around, breath, say hello to strangers, look at the sky, the ocean. When I stay grounded in these basics, it's a good day.
I’m right there with you W.J. I feel the same sense of gratitude each morning, and I’ve noticed it deepening as time passes.
Stepping away from work does seem to strip away a lot of the noise, right? Suddenly the simple things — a patch of blue sky, the wind bringing the smells of the sea, a warm smile and a word to someone you won't meet again — feel like they matter far more than all the rushing about ever did.
I am grateful that we celebrated our Thanksgiving Day early, with blessings enough to afford a lovely celebratory meal and enough groceries saved to join the Economic Blackout from now through Cyber Monday! I wish good health and good spirits to you all, brave defenders of democracy!
That sounds lovely, and I’m glad you had the chance to celebrate early. It’s great you planned ahead to enjoy a lovely meal and keep to the blackout.
Thank you for the kind wishes — sending the same back to you! May the days ahead treat you kindly.
This morning, I was able to wake up slowly and read this article. My husband lives with chronic pain, so I'm going to send this to him. Thank you 😊
You're welcome Elaine. I’m glad you had a quiet moment to ease into the day.😊 I hope this piece brings your husband even a little comfort or a fresh way of looking at things — living with constant pain is such a heavy load to carry.
Sending you both warm wishes for a bit of gentleness over the days ahead.