Today I wasted a bit of time on a little social networking site called Facebook. Okay, it was more than a little time, and the sites kind of big, I admit.
At any rate, a friend of mine joined a group of people who are "fans of the sun". I am a fan of the sun, that's for sure. But this made me think, do people exist who aren't fans of the sun (I mean, other than albinos and people who work nights?)? It also made me think about this new phenomenon of Seasonal Affective Disorder. All of this seems very timely considering that it's 4:00 PM and the sun is already headed to bed for today.
First things first. You need to understand that I LOVE the sun. I would even say that I love it to a point that borders on addiction. I am the granddaughter of a woman who was known to partake in visits to electric beach, even after having chunks of skin removed for melanoma, and while I hesitate to say that its "hereditary" I do think that there is something in my genes that makes me NEED the sun in a way that some others don't.
I have been tanning since I was a babe. My mother used to take me to the beach with her friends and they would slather themselves in baby oil & lay out to bake. My grandmother, her sister, and my great-grandmother all always loved the beach too. And today, my sister and I both love it. We meet in the summers to "lay out"-which is a favorite pass-time. I could hit the beach at 9:00 AM, and hang there until 4:00 without thinking twice about it.
Because we live in New England and the non-beach months are long, we seek out great deals on tanning packages in electric beds, or gym memberships and travel agencies that offer free tans when you buy something. Most of my vacations revolve around the opportunity to go somewhere with more sun than I can get at home. I would rather skip lunch and walk around the block to get just a few moments of sun when its the dead of winter and its dark when I head to the office, and dark again when I come home.
I just love the opportunity to catch some rays-even if it means a wrinkle or two extra, and even if I know it's not entirely "good for me"...but what's "good for me" is a very subjective thing. Do I know excessive sun causes wrinkles, skin cancer, and early aging? YES! But I dont tan EVERY day, and I really dont see that those potential problems outweigh the benefits of tanning for me.
Hitting the beach in the summer, or the tanning bed when I'm stuck inside, or during the times of the year when nights are long improves my mood. It improves my motivation, my stamina, and makes me feel good. I love the healthy glow of my skin with a tan. It gives me added confidence, and the heat of the rays on my skin makes me feel alive.
So do I believe in Seasonal Affective Disorder? Yes, for sure. Do I think we have a genetic disposition to needing the sun? Perhaps. That quickly becomes a nature versus nurture question that I cant answer. I do think that some of us REQUIRE sunlight to function properly, and I know for certain that I am one of those people. I also think that its absolutely splendid that some nice folks on Facebook have created a group to people who love the sun. Because I do LOVE it, and it's a love affair that will never die.
About Me
- Stara
- I'm Tara. I hail from "The Mouth", good old Plymouth, Massachusetts. I have always loved to write, and talk, and experience people and things in new ways. These days, I am using my writing skills not only to tell my own stories and experiences, but to reflect on some other things I love, like fashion, vintage jewelry, and art. I think accessories make the outfit and are the key to true style! I challenge anyone who doesn't like to talk to find their way out of talking to me. I could talk the paint off a wall, I'd bet. I enjoy meeting new people and love checking them out! Guys, gals, and these days, even pets often have their own sense of style, and personality and sense of style are the cornerstones of what I think about a good portion of the time. Food and drink take up the rest. Especially wine and cheese, and no, I'm not talking whine.
