I can distinctly remember loving the end of Daylight Saving Time when I was young. Something about gaining back an entire hour thrilled me. An extra hour! It felt like time travel without the technology. A little gift from the universe.
As I've gotten older, however, the entire idea of shifting the clock twice a year seems increasingly out of step with the natural world. Everything in nature has a rhythm, a cycle, a cadence that it follows. The sun rises and sets. The tides ebb and flow. Our goats and sheep, chickens and ducks still want to be fed on their timetable (much like my cats! The changing of clocks is quite irrelevant to them :)!). Every part of nature responds to the changing light, adjusting its needs and bahaviors as necessary with the seasons.
We are part of these rhythms, too, even if we often pretend we are not.
Perhaps that’s the challenge. We organize our lives around calendars, clocks, schedules, and work work work and forget our bodies are still listening to something much more organic.
Our circadian rhythm, our body's internal clock that regulates so much within us, is largely guided by light. The morning sun signals our bodies to wake up and the darkening night sky tells us it is time to wind down. These rhythms are deeply ingrained, and yet, twice a year, we decide to move the clock and expect our bodies to simply adjust. I envy the states that have opted out of the practice and the many many countries that either never adopted it or have since abandoned it.
Could we simply change our expectations? Let evening arrive when it arrives. Make room for morning darkness and enjoy the chance to catch a later sunrise. Tune in to that natural world we should all be more connected to anyway.
If you are finding yourself a little off balance as you adjust to this new time table, get outside and enjoy some nature. We have plenty of it here at Slide Ranch and would love to welcome you!
P.S. Consider joining us for a an upcoming workshop, Family Farm Day, or volunteer day for an even stronger excuse to get outside.
