I have a love/hate relationship with the lighting in my house. I love that almost every room has lots of lights--most of of which are recessed, which I really like. But I hate replacing the recessed bulbs at $3 a pop and I hate it even more when several bulbs go out at the same time.
Such was the case a few weeks ago. I found myself needing about eight new bulbs at once. I went to Costco and was delighted to find a big bulk box of 6 bulbs that cost about $12. What a deal! But I was sad to find that although the box proclaims these bulbs would provide a "warm white light" they actually had a slightly yellowish hue to them. I noticed right away that something was amiss with the color of light but I had already installed the bulbs and I figured I'd get used to it. But I didn't.
I found myself detesting the way these light bulbs made my carpet look orange,my walls a dingy cream color and my kids' skin look jaundiced. I discovered that I was keeping the lights off because I was so bugged. It bothered me so much that I could feel myself becoming agitated just by having them on.
We've had rather gloomy weather for the past several days and it became necessary to have the lights on during the day as well as at night. I realized that this odd yellowish light was actually making me feel uncomfortable in my own home. Something HAD to be done! (Yes, I have considered that I might be a little crazy.)
So yesterday I went out and bought all new, more expensive, recessed bulbs and replaced them. Right away I could see the difference, not just in my house but in my mood. How weird is that!
I have known for sometime that I am affected by light. Fluorescent lights make me crazy. I have even wondered if I have seasonal mood problems in the winter from lack of sunlight. This whole light bulb hullabaloo really confirmed to me that I need to be surrounded by pure clear light or I am just not right.
I've thought a lot about this today and wondered if there is some profound and thought-provoking gospel analogy I could learn from all of this. There probably is, but I'm too tired right now to articulate what it is. But at the most basic level at least I've learned that bargain light bulbs just aren't worth it!
3 comments:
Light is very powerful--one reason I adore sitting in my newer office now, even to read a book or eat lunch. My old one was in a cave-like room in the basement with no light.
I'd like some sun about now, too. This overcast weather is making me grumpy.
We also have two recessed lights in my kitchen that need to be replaced right now. Thanks for the tip- I'll stay away from the yellow light. I also need lots of light! I can't stand a dark room.
I relate on a deep level to this blog. I went out and bought lamps with sunshine bulbs and won't turn on several of my light fixtures in my housebecause of the same thing--a weird glare that puts me in a bad mood! I won't even go into my windowless office in a basement except to say that I sometimes feel like I was buried alive.
Just FYI for seasonal depression, I've found the things that work best (if you don't want to move to Arizona) is 10 min. of tanning (Gary told me that one), cod Liver oil pills and eating and exercising really well in the winter months.
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