The sun is out, bright, shiny and early today, after several days of snow, rain and cloudy skies.

It makes you notice.

Its brilliant debut this morning occurred a full 50 minutes later in the day than when we first arrived in Boston mid-January. Then, sunrise was at 7:10 and daylight was only 9 1/2 hours long.

Today, on the first of March, the harbinger of spring, the sun rose at 6:20 and will give us light for 11 hours and 13 minutes. It is seconds away from its longest daily leap forward of the year. (Today’s daylight is 2 minutes and 49 seconds longer than yesterday’s; the biggest growth spurt in daylight is, of course, around the equinox, when the sun is out for 2 minutes and 52 seconds more than the day before. And it does this for almost 16 days! Our spring days lengthen by 1/2 hour of daylight in only two weeks time. If this sounds confusing, go to this sunrise/sunset chart and plunk in your city name. It all becomes clear!)

For those of us whose energy and spirits are tethered to the rise and fall of the sun, this is the season we have been waiting for! We can take more walks, get more done, breathe more deeply as time itself seems to expand.

Funny how the sun seems to get younger and stronger as winter subsides. (I know, I know. The cause and affect are the other way ‘round but go with me on this one, just for the moment.)

And if the sun can get younger, and stronger, and last a bit longer, at this time of year, maybe, just maybe, so can we!

It’s worth a try. After all, Adar II, our double-dose of monthly joy, is coming.

(Photo from NASA)