"Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused."
This time of year, as the temperatures dip and the winter attire comes out, I am reminded how grateful I am for 300 days with sunshine in the Wenatchee valley. In the interest of full disclosure, we don't have 300 days with full sunshine. Sometimes it's cloudy or foggy but eventually, the sun does peek out for a while. Even a little sunshine is a welcome sight on those otherwise dreary winter days.
Wenatchee has 4 distinct seasons which I love. The older I get the less I like winter but even in winter, the sunshine shows itself most days. When Max and I were young we used to ski during the winter. Mission Ridge, our local ski hill is just 12 miles from town. We always felt a little smug when we'd head to the mountain in less than ideal conditions only to discover the hill was above the clouds. We usually packed a lunch and on those sunny days, we'd find a big rock to sit on when it was time to take a lunch break.
After Max developed Parkinson's Disease his confidence to ski waned. He said his brain would tell him to turn but his body didn't respond. That's when we knew it was time to turn in the skis, pack up the golf clubs, and head for our winter dose of sunshine elsewhere. Our favorite destination was Palm Springs, California. We did that for many years and loved it. I still make those winter trips and enjoy meeting up with friends for golf and other fun stuff.
In the Spring, Summer, and Fall we are blessed with plentiful sunshine AND warm temperatures. It's a nice long golf season.
This is my 5th entry into the November Challenge, hosted by Debe Maxwell, CRS .
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Thanks to my friends at RMPhotoz for allowing me to use their beautiful Wenatchee winter sunset photo.
2021: 10 Days of Thanksgiving (Day 5)
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