Being Heliophilic

I am heliophelic.

Heliophelia describes the desire to stay in the sun and the love of sunlight. So yes, I am heliophilic. 

When I wake up in the morning and see the sky is blue and it's going to be a sunny day, I am less grumpy (clearly I am not a morning person) and sometimes the fact that the sun is shining makes my 'not-quite-awake'-self instantly up beat and motivated to start this day.

For me, sunshine makes everything better, brighter and more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong: I am also that kind of person that loves jumping around in puddles of rain and having fun dancing and running around in the rain for no other reason than just because I feel like it. I also love snowy days. But right now- spring in the northern hemisphere- I seriously have such a craving for sun it is unbelievable. The last couple of weeks it's been raining all the time and the sky was cloudy and grey. Then there was this brief window of 4 and a half days of sunshine before it went back to being even more rainy than before. 

In these couple of sunny days I realised again how much sunshine can change the outcome of a day.

If the sun is shining I always spend my lunch break outside. I sit down in this little park just opposite the entrance of the building I am currently doing my internship at. The change of scenery really enhances my level of regeneration and I feel more energised when I return inside and am motivated to give it my best again in there. When I have to spend my lunch break inside I can't enjoy the break time I get. I eat and then I wait until the time is over or simply go back to work earlier than I would have to and I realise that later in the afternoon I am counting down the minutes until I can leave. So clearly sunshine is not only better for my mood but also has a positive impact on my work.

Sitting in the sun, feeling the rays of sunlight on my skin while I have my eyes closed an enjoy the moment is such a nice little treat to lift my spirit and my level of happiness.  If you read my last post on how time flies by you know that for me time passes incredibly fast. So I think it is very important to try and make every day special and worth being experienced. Sunshine i one of those tiny little things in life that are free but can make a huge difference if acknowledged and not ignored.

I hope you are fortunate enough to have lots of sunshine in your life. But still: next time turn your head in the direction of the sun, close your eyes, enjoy the warmth and maybe just like it tends to happen to me, your face will light up, produce a smile and endorphins just like that. Let these little things make your day!

Cheers for now,

Mags