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On Dark and Light
On Dark and
Light
t Anne Katz, PhD, RN, is a clinical nurse specialist and sexuality counselor at the Prostate Centre of CancerCare in Manitoba, Winnipeg, and she is the editor of Nursing for Women’s Health. DOI:10.1111/j.1751-486X.2009.01477.x
http://nwh.awhonn.org
This is the darkest time of the year in the northern hemisphere. Where I live, above the 49th parallel, it gets dark at about 5:00 p.m. and we don’t see the sun again until almost 9:00 a.m. the next day. This is not a good thing for someone like me. I leave for work at about 6:00 a.m. and usually leave when the sun is going down around 4:00 p.m. After I’ve run some errands on my way home, it’s usually dark and I curse softly as I negotiate the dark garage and even darker mudroom as I fumble for the light switch. I don’t think humans really like the dark. For our foremothers, dark may have meant a welcome end to a day of hard work. But is a woman’s day ever done? Those women still had to comfort children and start the morning fire in the kitchen while the night was still black. Darkness has been used in literature to describe evil and death. We have dark thoughts and plan dark deeds. As nurses, most of us have walked a dark hallway while on duty, listening
Anne Katz, PhD, RN
to the sounds of our patients, alert to a whisper or a moan. Some of us like that quiet stillness, but I always longed for the lightening of the sky. Things happen in the night. And I’m not just talking about things that go bump. Night is a time for dreaming, for our subconscious to take over the rationality of the day. In my younger days, my dreams were vivid and noisy; these days I can’t remember them at all. A soldier told me something that I’ve never forgotten. He served in Afghanistan twice and said that God made the night dark for a reason. Things happen in the dark, between men and women, and men and men, and men and animals, and with night goggles it can all be seen. He told me that he can’t forget the things he has seen in the dark of night. His words haunt me. At this time of the year, the religions of the world fight the darkness by celebrating holidays
© 2009, AWHONN
455
At this time of the year, the religions of the world fight the darkness by celebrating holidays and festivals, many of which incorporate light
and festivals, many of which incorporate light. Hanukkah is celebrated by those of Jewish faith and for eight nights, candles are lit when darkness falls. On the first night just one candle burns, and each night another is added until the house glows on the final night with all eight candles burning bright. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and adorn their houses with twinkling lights and glowing candles. Christmas trees are adorned with all things bright and shiny, matched only by the light in children’s eyes. Many of African descent celebrate Kwanzaa, with song and dance and the lighting of seven candles. Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son. Muslim families share their food with family and friends and are commanded to share with the poor, too, bringing relief to those who are hungry. As the days move toward the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, I draw strength
from the knowledge that the days will get longer and the nights will grow shorter once this dark December is past. There is always hope in the human heart—for the alleviation of pain and suffering, for a better day tomorrow and for spring and summer just around the corner. May this holiday season bring light and love and laughter to you all. NWH
http://nwhTalk.awhonn.org
H e l p i n g Wo m e n S t a y We l l Today we know more than ever about preventing disease and promoting health. For the very latest, read “Well Woman,” a clinical practice column appearing three times a year in Nursing for Women’s Health. READ IT TO KEEP YOUR PATIENTS—AND YOURSELF—FEELING HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND VIBRANT.
456
Nursing for Women’s Health
Volume 13
Issue 6
Light
t Anne Katz, PhD, RN, is a clinical nurse specialist and sexuality counselor at the Prostate Centre of CancerCare in Manitoba, Winnipeg, and she is the editor of Nursing for Women’s Health. DOI:10.1111/j.1751-486X.2009.01477.x
http://nwh.awhonn.org
This is the darkest time of the year in the northern hemisphere. Where I live, above the 49th parallel, it gets dark at about 5:00 p.m. and we don’t see the sun again until almost 9:00 a.m. the next day. This is not a good thing for someone like me. I leave for work at about 6:00 a.m. and usually leave when the sun is going down around 4:00 p.m. After I’ve run some errands on my way home, it’s usually dark and I curse softly as I negotiate the dark garage and even darker mudroom as I fumble for the light switch. I don’t think humans really like the dark. For our foremothers, dark may have meant a welcome end to a day of hard work. But is a woman’s day ever done? Those women still had to comfort children and start the morning fire in the kitchen while the night was still black. Darkness has been used in literature to describe evil and death. We have dark thoughts and plan dark deeds. As nurses, most of us have walked a dark hallway while on duty, listening
Anne Katz, PhD, RN
to the sounds of our patients, alert to a whisper or a moan. Some of us like that quiet stillness, but I always longed for the lightening of the sky. Things happen in the night. And I’m not just talking about things that go bump. Night is a time for dreaming, for our subconscious to take over the rationality of the day. In my younger days, my dreams were vivid and noisy; these days I can’t remember them at all. A soldier told me something that I’ve never forgotten. He served in Afghanistan twice and said that God made the night dark for a reason. Things happen in the dark, between men and women, and men and men, and men and animals, and with night goggles it can all be seen. He told me that he can’t forget the things he has seen in the dark of night. His words haunt me. At this time of the year, the religions of the world fight the darkness by celebrating holidays
© 2009, AWHONN
455
At this time of the year, the religions of the world fight the darkness by celebrating holidays and festivals, many of which incorporate light
and festivals, many of which incorporate light. Hanukkah is celebrated by those of Jewish faith and for eight nights, candles are lit when darkness falls. On the first night just one candle burns, and each night another is added until the house glows on the final night with all eight candles burning bright. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and adorn their houses with twinkling lights and glowing candles. Christmas trees are adorned with all things bright and shiny, matched only by the light in children’s eyes. Many of African descent celebrate Kwanzaa, with song and dance and the lighting of seven candles. Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son. Muslim families share their food with family and friends and are commanded to share with the poor, too, bringing relief to those who are hungry. As the days move toward the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, I draw strength
from the knowledge that the days will get longer and the nights will grow shorter once this dark December is past. There is always hope in the human heart—for the alleviation of pain and suffering, for a better day tomorrow and for spring and summer just around the corner. May this holiday season bring light and love and laughter to you all. NWH
http://nwhTalk.awhonn.org
H e l p i n g Wo m e n S t a y We l l Today we know more than ever about preventing disease and promoting health. For the very latest, read “Well Woman,” a clinical practice column appearing three times a year in Nursing for Women’s Health. READ IT TO KEEP YOUR PATIENTS—AND YOURSELF—FEELING HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND VIBRANT.
456
Nursing for Women’s Health
Volume 13
Issue 6