Goodbye darkness, Hello sun!

 "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise" - Victor Hugo

6 months of snow, 3 months of dark days and a period of coldness are going to end. Instead, we can once more feel the sun's warmth on our faces. We can observe that folks are enjoying themselves by sitting outside. We are now able to walk along a path that we haven't been able to do for months. It feels like a fresh start in life. 

Such darkness was something I had never known before arriving in Sweden. I truly believed that everyone was joking with me. But no. It was dark by 1:00 p.m. On cloudy days, it seemed as though there was no light at all. You needed to motivate yourself because you got tired. However, you manage to survive because you are aware that the sun will rise again. Days with sunshine were rare during this period. After two weeks of no genuine sunlight, I recall being in church when the sun came out. Valeria and I ran outdoors. We had just been standing in the sun for a few minutes. It felt like we can breath again.

I wouldn't say it was the hardest period now as I look back. No, I loved it too this time. I was able to appreciate the sun more as a result. It helped me realize that there is a place for darkness in life. We wouldn't be able to fully appreciate the sunny periods without the darkness. You learn to handle darkness and to see the good aspects of it.  Because life is not about sitting inside and waiting until the sun comes back. It is about making every situation to the best possible. To be honest, the Northern lights helped to find the beauty in it. 

But then there's the day when the sun finally comes out. It is bright outside as you sit at the dining table. You don't need a flashlight to ride your bike at 5 p.m. Instead, you must make your room darker in order to sleep. You're also wondering how you can spend as much time outside as possible during the day. Your mood is getting better and your energy level is rising. 

Spring has finally arrived. 

And summer will be here before we even notice it. 

 

"The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again." Ecclesiastes 1:5 NLT