Music, Mental Health and Me #11-David: 'Sun is shining, the weather is sweet'

David Dawson

Spring has sprung and in the typical generosity of UK weather we have already been treated to countless days of sunshine (by countless I mean too depressed to count because there's been like four realistically). In Issue 10 our top ten songs was for songs containing nature and one of my inclusions was Bob Marley and the Wailers' 'Sun is Shining' - an ode to how sweet life feels when the sun is out.
I have to say at around this time every year I always get caught off guard by this. I actually do love winter but when March hits, the daffodils come out and the sun is shining I just feel happier for some reason. I just seem to have a smile on my face and everything seems to be better with the world, but why is that?
Well an obvious and more boring answer would be vitamin D, it's literally like happy juice that comes from the sun. Every spring we leave our houses as sad creatures and photosynthesise literal happiness from the sun. It's a strange concept really but the boost and balance that can be given to us with a little kick of vitamin D really is a phenomenon. OK, so I'm not silly enough to actually think that the moment we step out into the sun we are surged with vitamin D and that melts all of our problems away. The other more simplistic reason is that it just puts a better view on everything. When I think back to sunny days I think of walks outside and packed beer gardens. When I look back on good memories, even just as simple as playing football with some mates, they all seem to take me back to a sunny day.
I also think especially in spring a big part of it is just our natural grass is greener complex. In the heights of summer I often find myself dreaming of dark winter nights curled up in front of an open fire, or seasonal cheer and snow, and don't get me wrong these moments can be just as beautiful as a day in the summer heat, but when spring arrives, having spent the last four months in the cold dreaming of the sun, shorts, holidays and just heat in general it always comes as the most welcome of surprises when we start to experiences our first glimpses of warmth. Quite frankly by September I'm usually a little fed up of sweating, overheating and mowing the lawn once a week but after months of separation I really do realise what a good thing I had when it was gone. In fact in early March I was actually excited to dust off the mower and get back to cutting the grass. Our most loyal of readers may remember I often see it as a form of home therapy, putting my music on and admiring a fresh and neat lawn when I'm finished. Of course give it until June when the grass grows so quickly that I can't keep up with it and I'll once again be cursing it, but for now it's a joyous treat of a job on a hot day after months without it.
​I really do think that the simple and natural wonder of sunshine is some of the best therapy you can get. Just the thought of it brings a smile to my face and there's not much better than just going out and spending some time in the heat, whether just walking the dog or sloshing back cold beers outside the pub (I said that to sound cool I don't even do it that often). There's just something about spring's ability to cheer us up and bring us together. This magical period of summer anticipation and relief at seeing the back end of winter really is beautiful. In fact the best way to sum it up is Bob Marley and the Wailers 'Sun is Shining', so make sure to give it a listen!