I realised today that it had been quite some time now since I wrote a blog post. While, there have been a number of family issues that have needed my attention over the last few months, the beauty of the summer is noteworthy.
What struck me today was the impact of the seasons on my life. For example, summer has been fantastic, it is lighter for longer each day, and there is more time, the weather is better, being outside is much more enjoyable, and in this environment, I feel much more relaxed.
The reason that I noticed this so much today was that it appeared to get darker earlier than it has lately, which made getting home from work more challenging.
Recent changes in my vision mean that too much light often decreases my ability to see detail; however, this is usually alleviated by wearing sunglasses, a hat or facing away from the light. What I had forgotten was the other extreme, at dusk and night where the brightness decreases, taking away the detail and the halo and flaring effect of light coupled with the glare.
Over summer, the impact of this was minimal, and I rarely needed to use my cane as it was light for longer. My confidence in getting around had grown, and there were even a couple of times I thought to myself that I was confident and perhaps safe enough to drive again (although this isn’t an option as my visual acuity does not legally allow this).
What this illustrated is just how much of an impact the environment can have on the quality of life. In particular, for me around mobility and therefore, independence.
I believe that noticing this phenomenon is worthwhile as in the moment (winter) when getting around is more complicated, it allows more natural separation of what is within my sphere of influence and what is not.
