Sunshine and Happiness
by Marry Wakefield Buxton
Urbanna, Va.— It’s a long way from Urbanna to Naples, Florida, where I go every year in search of sunshine. I drive 1,000 miles over two days and by the time I arrive, my legs are so cramped I can barely walk. It takes a few days to walk out the kinks.
My annual sojourn south helps me deal with depression. The late Dr. Brockett Muir, a dear friend, once told me he noticed I seemed “down” during winter months and thought I suffered from seasonal affective disorder from deprived sunlight. I decided to test his theory, promptly departed for Florida, and noticed an immediate change. I woke up happy each morning. All I had needed was sunshine. Since this discovery I have been returning south every winter for the quick fix. (I later learned a sun lamp such as Verilux can help with the winter blues just as well.)
Another boon to feeling well is regular exercise, which triggers endorphins in our system that works kind of like a drug. Each morning I walk for an hour across the Gordon River Bridge and down Fifth Avenue and back. I see a lot of pelicans soaring across the sky. Pelicans also trigger happiness.
The traffic is terrible and to make it worse almost everyone who whizzes by is talking on a cell phone. They appear to be so busy with constant conversation they miss the pelicans. What a shame.
Even bikers are talking on cell phones, or are “plugged” into iPods. They shoot by me as if they have important destinations to visit. I think of the white rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland “who was always rushing off somewhere and ruminating over being late.
The old-fashioned walker like myself, who strolls along with no place to go in particular but merely enjoys nature and marvels at such things as birds, flowers or the diamonds shimmering on the surface of Naples Bay, is almost as extinct as dinosaurs.
So be it. I have reached the age where I can’t be bothered with rushing here and there, especially when on vacation. I rather like rambling along taking in the beauty of nature. I can’t get enough of what Mother Nature has to offer. I want to enjoy every sensation of life before moving on to unknown territories.
This brings up another thought on happiness. My church teaches there is an afterlife and I always listen with an open mind. It certainly is a pleasant thought that death is not the end but a beginning of some other existence. But I came late to religion from a strong secular and scientific background, and so much of what I hear in church is incredulous. The good news is grounded in science, which does not preclude imagining God. This is a very good thing because the simple act of believing in God is also a component of happiness and is very good for mental health.
When I opened my brain to make room for a Creator, which I define as a supreme source of energy, matter, or intelligence, I discovered something really phenomenal. I was much happier. The next step was learning to pray or meditate and this practice also helped me feel better.
Another help in lifting spirits is my two dogs, “Lord” and “Lady.” Having a pet also leads to lower blood pressure according to medical reports. I don’t agree. I think you have to have a dog to feel really happy as I can’t imagine any great joy from owning a fish, ant farm, gerbil, or even a cat but, I always say, to each his own.
I love my dogs like children. When I first set eyes on them in the morning, with those big, red, furry bodies turned to me as I first enter the utility room door to let them outside, I can feel my whole body overcome with joy. There is nothing in this world as wonderful as throwing your arms around a dog. The rule of thumb for me is—the bigger dog, the better and the more dogs, the merrier.
Having a job or simply helping others delivers great satisfaction. Hobbies are good, too. I spend much of my time writing and this activity is said to be quite therapeutic because it allows for inner thoughts to be expressed. I am always surprised to read what I think after writing a column or story. There is no better way to get to know oneself than to pick up a pen and write.
Lastly, living in a small town provides great happiness. I feel so fortunate to live in a village like Urbanna where neighbors really do love and care about each other.
