SHINING SUNLIGHT

Seize the Sunshine

Reflect your inner light

Golden rays of light The world basks in warm delight Sunshine brings new life Mia Verita

To explain the significance of sunlight in my life, I’ll briefly tell you about an event that happened many years ago. Although the story appears bleak, the sun always rises again after the rain.

Many years ago, my college boyfriend sat in my living room and told me that he thought he loved someone else. I looked him straight in the eye with a smile and said, “The sun will rise in the morning and set in the evening with or without you. It’s time for you to go.” He was shocked by my response, and so was I. That was a defining moment in my life. To me, the rising and setting of the sun represented the brevity of life. Life is short, and I didn’t want to waste another second of it.

The sun is one of nature’s greatest measurements of time and life cycles. Our circadian rhythms respond to the sun’s light/dark cycles, causing us to become more alert with light and signaling us to fall asleep in the dark. Not only does the sun regulate our day, but it also measures our year. It takes 365 days for the Earth to travel once around the sun, forming our concept of a year. Of course, the science behind it is more complex, but you get a general idea. The sun sets our standard for time and seasons.

Metaphorically, the journey of sunlight across the sky can represent the span of a person’s life. The sun rises upon our birth and sets upon our death. That said, I want to accomplish all I can and fulfill my purpose in life before the sun goes down on my days here on Earth. I can do nothing from the grave, so here and now is the time and place to put my talents and abilities to good use. At the very least, I don’t want to squander the sunlight by hiding in the shadows.

The sun is the only star in our solar system, and it shines as a beacon of hope, a light of joy, and a ray of positivity. It encourages me to seize the day and make the most of the shining sunlight. Just as the sun rises and sets and brings forth seasons, our lives experience growth cycles and seasons of change and renewal.

We can embrace the cycles of life and accept that change is an inevitable part of our journey. If we don’t like something, the good news is that everything eventually changes. If we like something, bask in the light of that precious moment while it lasts because everything changes. The sun will set on that day. Tomorrow is a new day, and the sun will rise again. The sun is not stagnant, nor are we.

The sun continually rotates on its axis and revolves around the galaxy. Likewise, we continue moving and growing throughout our lifetime. Even in times when we feel inert, life is in constant motion. I can choose to sit in a corner and never move again, but time and life will continue. While my muscles become weak and flaccid, the sun will continue to rise in the East and set in the West every day like clockwork. The rising sun is my invitation and inspiration to begin again with each new day.

I’ve learned by now that not all days will be sunny. That’s not life’s design. Life has cycles of sunshine and rain, ups and downs, victories and defeats, and light and shadows. It’s okay to nurse myself when I fall, but it’s important to come back into the light and not get too comfortable in the shadows. Life goes on, and it’s up to me to greet the sunrise each morning. If the weather isn’t sunny outside, and my external circumstances are less than optimal, it’s up to me to find the sunlight within myself and let it shine.

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

In many cultures, sunlight symbolizes enlightenment and spiritual awakening. Just as the physical sun brings light, warmth, and energy to the world, the metaphorical sun illuminates our inner selves and guides us toward a greater understanding of our purpose and place in the world. When we cast sunlight on the shadows hidden in our closet, we realize the monsters that have paralyzed us in fear aren’t as big as they had appeared.

Our internal light can be obscured at times by challenges and difficulties in life. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Into each life, some rain must fall…” But when we open the curtains to the windows of our minds and allow the sun to shine upon our hearts, something remarkable happens. Our point of view shifts to reveal an enlightened perspective we couldn’t see from the shadows.

We find that our inner sunlight is always there, waiting to warm, empower, and energize our dreams and aspirations. There’s a whole world filled with new possibilities, hope, and optimism. Each new day and each new season of our lives begins to reflect that inner light. It is then that we not only see the light, but we become the light. We find our way in this world on an illuminated path, and we help others to do the same. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I’ve found to be true.

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” J.M. Barrie 1890

Some of my favorite quotes about sunlight

“Even after all this time, the sun never says to the Earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.” Hafez

“Keep your face to the Sun, and you will never see the shadows.” Helen Keller

“When the Sun kisses the horizon, that’s when you see the sky blush.” Anthony T. Hincks

“I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days.” Henry David Thoreau

“A smile is the same as sunshine; it banishes winter from the human countenance.” Victor Hugo

“The Sun himself is weak when he first rises and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” Charles Dickens

“Even the Sun directs our gaze away from itself and to the life illumined by it.” Eberhard Arnold

“The Sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.” Galileo Galilei

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV

“Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” Isaiah 60:20 KJV

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV

Thank you for reading. This is a response to Reciprocal’s first week of April Nature Prompt, “Shining Sunlight.” I hope you enjoyed it.

Mia Verita, 2023

Thank you, Sahil Patel, for this timely prompt. Sahil has asked writers to “Write a story about how sunlight affects our lives. Add a description about how you discovered the power of sunlight and how it changed your life. By sharing the power of sunlight, encourage your readers to go outside, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the sun’s rays.”

I invite other writers to share what the power of sunlight means to you.

Thank you to the hardworking editors of Reciprocal, Sahil Patel, Dr. Preeti Singh, and Yana Bostongirl, for hosting this story.

More great articles from the Reciprocal publication

Allisonn Church shared this fascinating story that brought back wonderful childhood memories for me.

Yousuf Rafi shared this enlightening story sharing many ways the sun has impacted his life.

Mia Verita enjoys sunrises and sunsets and sharing her light with others. She also enjoys photography, sketching, writing poetry, and sharing inspirational stories.

If you would like to read all of Mia Verita’s stories and those of other Medium members, you can join Medium using her affiliate link. She will receive a portion of the membership fee at no additional cost to you.