Now how many of you thought that I was talking about the weather?

Well, to some extent, I am. It’s about 70 degrees here in Baltimore, with 60-mph winds due tomorrow and then snow on Monday night. As the old provincial adage goes, If you don’t like the weather in Baltimore, wait 5 minutes.

This kind of weather always reminds me of Jerry and the Dead’s song, “Here Comes Sunshine.” Love how Jerry plays the guitar on this one, makes it really shine, just like the song (“Don’t just stand there dreaming; get out of the way, get out of the way….”).

The other reminder–both from the weather and from this song–is the importance of keeping happiness in your life. You just have to do it. There are a thousand stressors out there ready to suck the life out of you; you have to be in control to find the sunshine, take it in, and let it burn back through you and out to the rest of the world.

For me, that comes in taking the time for myself in just little doses. Playing the guitar, taking a walk in the woods, shooting a few photos, and of course, writing in my daybook.

This blog, in many ways, has also become a little piece of sunshine for me. Writing here daily has been a good, sunny ritual to add to my life. I don’t plan on stopping any time soon.

So get out there. Soak up the sun before the gusts of wind blow all our small pets into the neighbors’ yards, before the walks have to be shoveled at least one more time, and definitely before the stresses of life find their way to your front door.

Be solar. Take in the sun and hold on to that energy for as long as you can!