Summer Solstice 2024
The Earths energy empowers
Today was the longest day of the year here in Japan, and for me, it was another long action packed Friday!
I am increasingly noticing how these Solstice events influence life here on Earth. Nobody seems to talk about it or even notice that the planet is about to start tipping back in the other direction. It is pretty wild what is going on here when you take a moment to ponder on it.
Tomorrow we will be heading back to winter. I am not really ready yet. I have just started feeling like I am beginning to cross some things off my summer to-do list and here we are heading back to shorter days and colder temps!
Crazy.
Thanks to the Soltice the last few weeks have been filled with a lot of energy as I work through a huge D.I.Y project. The solstice seemed to create an underlying sense of urgency as I worked at a feverish pitch to complete this project.
I moved my office into a shipping container I purchased recently and then I began the process of refurbishing the former office space into a dining area for our cafe/ice cream shop.
Painting, breaking down walls, building countertops, installing speakers, more painting, staining, sanding, installing lighting, driving back to the store to buy more lighting equipment, and on and on.
I am not finished yet, but we are well on the way. It would have felt great to finish on the Soltice, but that was not a possibility! It's okay though, we will be ready for business around the 12th of July and I am happy with that.
I would love to know if anyone else feels affected by the Soltice and if you have been inspired to work on a project of any kind!
Now to end this newsletter a little science!
“The summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year, has several effects on humans, primarily through changes in light exposure. Extended daylight can impact our circadian rhythms, influencing sleep patterns and cognitive functions.
Longer daylight hours have been associated with seasonal variations in mood, including increased rates of mood disorders like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), although SAD is more commonly associated with the winter months. However, there is evidence that some individuals may experience mood improvements due to increased sunlight and the associated boost in vitamin D levels (Psychology Today) (livescience.com).
In terms of cognitive performance, studies have found that certain cognitive functions, such as sustained attention, tend to peak around the summer solstice, while others, like working memory, peak around different times of the year. These variations are thought to be linked to the amount of light and its effects on our internal biological clocks (Psychology Today).
Overall, while the summer solstice brings about changes in light exposure that can disrupt sleep and influence mood and cognitive performance, the exact effects can vary widely among individuals depending on their sensitivity to light and other environmental factors.”
I hope you all had a good Summer Solstice with a lot of sustained attention and energy!
Talk to you again next week!
Neil