Today is the shortest day of 2022. Winter officially begins, and we march forward into the sunlight. One day at a time until June 21, when we reach the longest day of the year when Summer begins. Between these ranges are the middle stopping grounds when Spring and Fall begin.
Today, in my neck of the woods, the sun rises at 7:52 a.m. PST and sets at 4:24 p.m. PST. Shorten this sunlight by about 4.5 hours, and you’d have the daylight of Anchorage, AK. Keep going north to the northernmost town in the USA, and you’ll find Utqiagvik, AK. They haven’t had the sun in a while, and it will be a while before it rises again.
Listen. Your shortest day depends on where you are at!
Northern or Southern, Hemisphere that is.
Flip the globe, and it’s the opposite.
The farther North or South,
You have Less or More.
Where are you at?
When we moved to Alaska, I never gave it much thought about arriving before the shortest day of the year. Did we have it in Texas? Sure. I just don’t remember it as a big deal. The farther North? It’s a big deal! On the longest day of the year, in Anchorage, the sun rises at 4:20 a.m. and sets at 11:43 p.m. You can sit on your porch and read the paper all night long with the sunset and sunrise glow! I knew people that played golf at midnight just to be different!
Morning Thought
Your shortest day has only something to do with day and night if you allow it. Otherwise, each day has a full complement of seconds, minutes, and hours to equal the day before and the day after. Don’t let sunlight tell you how much day you have.
My day is 24 hours, and I have as much daylight as I want to; thank you very much!
Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)
affect some when it’s darker longer.
I’ve found that I just keep doing
what I want to do
no matter the light, or not.
Still, there are some things we do better
When it is light more than not.
Nocturnal means you’re active at night.
Diurnal, me, means I’m active at light.
But no amount of artificial light
Confuses what I am.
When I’m tired, I sleep,
When I’m not, I don’t.
For the Northern Hemishpere December 21/22 is the shortest day and kickstart of winter. Snow, ice, frozen ground, frigid temperatures, less sunlight, more night, you name it, that’s not a good time to plant seed. There are right times, and then there are downright stinking times.
The key? We need it all.
We need society,
Philip Gilbert Hamerton
and we need solitude also,
as we need summer and winter,
day and night,
exercise and rest.
Why do we need it all? Every season has a purpose. My trees root system strengthens in the winter to help the leaves in the summer. A farmer plants in the springs, harvest season brings results, and the winter is there to repair equipment to be ready again.
There’s the concept of a time and purpose for every season under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3) We all have seasons, and some are as short as the daylight you have before you to spend and do as you see fit. What will we do with our season of darkness and light? For me? It’s to simply live righteous and be profitable no matter the hours of light.
Today is the Shortest Day of 2022: Today is the shortest day of 2022. Winter officially begins, and we march forward into the sunlight. One day at a time until June 21, when we reach the longest day of the year and Summer begins. Click To Tweet