Winter

When trees lose their leaves in the winter, they appear to be dead. I grew up in the tropics where the leaves never fall, so each year, I witness this phenomenon in wonderment and fascination, and still, after all these years am captivated by the change of seasons. The even more amazing thing is that it is during the winter that under the earth's surface - the roots are growing, preparing to support the next growth cycle.

During this dark time of year, in the northern hemisphere, days are shorter and nights longer. We get less sunlight. Since there are no leaves on the trees, we get less oxygen, more carbon dioxide. We have a greater tendency to get ill, because due to modern inventions of turning night into day with electricity, we don't get as much sleep as we are supposed to get. Ideally, if we follow our natural tendencies, we would be following the sun's schedule - rising at dawn and going to sleep at dusk like the rest of nature. By not following nature, we lose our balance, compromising the immune system. As our defenses get weaker, there are viruses and bacteria that help us get more rest. As I write this I can see the whole picture of winter, and reflect how far humans have gone from living naturally. The only time I have gone to bed and woken up with the sun is when I am camping outdoors.