Sunshine on My Shoulders Makes Me Happy

Soaking up some sunlight can do wonders for your well being. It’s important for your mental health to get outside in the late fall and winter months because of shorter daylight hours. Some people experience the winter doldrums with fewer hours of sunlight. I feel my mental outlook and emotional health benefit tremendously from sunshine and being outdoors.

PLAN AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE TO BOOST YOUR MOOD

As I headed out on an excursion to Point Dume on a crisp fall day, I was delighted by a display of wildflowers unusual for this time of year and the end of California’s dry season. I never saw poppies growing in November, they are normally springing early summer bloomers, but there they were, adorning the hills of Malibu.

Another surprise, Green Spot Nightshade. I only see this wildflower growing in the spring, and even then it is rare. 

Ice plant is not native to California. It can be a nuisance in some ares but no one told the bees that!

California aster grew along with the Ice plants.

As I rounded the bend on the Point Dume trail in could hear the seals and sea lions barking from the rocks out in the ocean in the distance.

The drier areas offered little in the way of wildflowers but there were colorful prickly pear cactus.

Mountain tail-leaf cover a large portion of the west side of the trail.

Beautiful white and yellow wildflowers clustered together.

Crazy! Bush sunflower dried up months ago where I live only 20 minutes away. Here it was still thriving despite no rain. The different and varied microclimates in Southern California present so much variety for plant life.

It’s difficult to access this secluded beach. It’s very inviting if you don’t mind climbing rocks.

I was hiking with my sister that day. She snapped this pic of me at a popular photo spot, high up on the Point Dume cliffs.

We took in the spectacular view of Zuma beach and breathed in the fresh ocean air, then started back down the hill.

“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy… sunshine almost always makes me high.” – John Denver (Sunshine On My Shoulders)

Oh wow, more wild flowers! Telegraph weed (Heterotheca grandiflora) popped up here and there along the sandy path.

Pretty wire lettuce flowers made a stark contrast against the dry brush!

Beach primrose (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia) also called: Beach evening primrose or beach suncup.

Sea rocket thrives in sandy areas.

Rest time, relaxing on the beach. The sunshine on the water was lovely on Zuma beach. Grateful for a beautiful refreshing day, full of sunshine and wildflower surprises.

SHAKE OFF THE WINTERTIME BLUES
As the winter season approaches, keep a sunny disposition and get out in the sun. Some doctors recommend you expose your skin (without sunscreen) to modest amounts of sun for the feel good endorphins UV rays produce in the body. There is a debate as to how much sun? Certain doctors say between 5 to 15 minutes, more if you are darker skinned. Too much can cause skin cancer but a little may actually stave off other kinds of cancers and diseases. In addition, sunlight on the skin starts a metabolic and chemical chain reaction in the body that produces vitamin D. Vitamin D boots immunity, strengthens the bones and more.

“There is now limited but convincing evidence that moderate sunlight exposure is capable of modulating the immune system and improving health.” – Daniel G.  Maglio, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires and researcher in the growing field of photo-immunology.

Stay on the bright side and stay happy, Linda

“But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.” – Psalm 42:8 NLT

Blog content is for information purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice from your doctor.

Copyright, all rights reserved