While traveling through long, dark pathways, sometimes it’s dicult to remind ourselves that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That light motivates us to keep pushing forward, even if the light seems far away. Light is the source of our strength and often symbolizes hope, clarity, and renewal.
The Symbolism of Light in Life’s Challenges
Throughout history, light has been a powerful symbol of hope, oering comfort during life’s darkest moments. Literature is where this is most prominent, such as books like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. While there are many examples of hope being portrayed from light in the world, sometimes it can be hard to understand when we, too, are deep in the depths of life’s challenges. The Sun is the perfect example of true light. Why do things appear brighter and happier on a clear, sunny day? The light from the sun triggers our brain and tells it to produce more serotonin, our body’s natural mood booster. It’s also a way to get natural vitamin D, which has that same eect. For example, according to Mental Health America, Hawaii had a low amount of mental health compared to Alaska. That’s mostly because it’s dark all day in Alaska for most of the year. Whereas Hawaii has the sun’s light almost constantly. Besides the sun and vitamin D, how can we find other forms of light in our everyday lives?
Finding Light in Everyday Moments
Let’s be honest, light can be found everywhere. The simplest forms of light often go unseen. Do you ever notice that sometimes we purposefully blow out the lit candle in our lives and live in darkness? We’re here to tell you…stop, take a look at the positive around you, and enjoy the moments that bring you joy. You will notice the good that happens in our environment. We see instances of light from a single smile, the laughter of a baby or child, seeing a rainbow, or even watching fireflies glow. There are countless opportunities that can help us feel and find light in our lives. We just have to search for them, especially during trying times.
We want to remind you that you can find strength in light. Whether or not you can see it, each of you carries that glow. One of the best ways to feel luminous this holiday season is through the various acts of service. Service is an example of a guiding principle that ignites us and helps others feel the same. Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” So, when we spread light to those around us, we find that we also rekindle our personal flames. Our goal this month is to help you feel that light. When you find a glimmer of brightness you will notice the positive changes in your life. And when you share it with others, well, who knows the tremendous impact you will make in this world.