The late afternoon view from my back porch reminds me that days are getting longer.

I noticed it the other day when I was meeting a friend for an early dinner. Driving west into a pinkish sunset at 4:30, I thought to myself, Wasn’t it already dark at this time just a couple weeks ago?

I felt oddly buoyant about this recognition.  Of course,  I notice this every year around this time, but this year, I felt compelled to look up the facts.

On Sunday December 21st, the official shortest day of the year, sunrise in Chicago was at 7:15 and sunset was at 4:23. By mid-January, sunset was at 4:47, and on March 1^st, sunrise will be at 6:26 and sunset will be at 5:41.

I understand that there are always 24 hours to a day, but for some reason, knowing that moving towards more daylight hours seems like a natural cause for optimism. I’ll find myself encouraged by even the smallest incremental increase in daylight.

Over lunch recently, a friend asked me if I was happy. Not intending to deflect the inquiry, I still found myself circling around a direct answer.

I explained that I was more comfortable than I was several years ago because my financial circumstances have improved. I added that I felt less stress than I was experiencing a year ago when I was going through a break-up and was trying to find a new place to live. I was sleeping better and confessed I had gotten better at speaking up about my feelings when I would have kept them in at other times in my life. A healthy change.

I concluded that life was easier for me, but I could not, unequivocally, state that I was happy.

It was only a month ago that I wrote down some personal goals. Yes, I want to get out and hear live music more often and at some point, when I’m ready, I know I want to be in a partnered relationship again. I would like to bring my gratitude approach to more people, and I would like to make more of my income from what my heart wants to offer and not just from tasks I perform for a company willing to pay me.

If I looked at life as either having something I want or not having that thing, I could feel pretty stuck, but like considering the extra few minutes of light blue, then pink, sky between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon as winter months move on, I can feel pretty content with things.

Any time you know what is ultimately desired, and you can see progress towards that thing, it’s cause for optimism.

Getting more of what you want represents the little victories of life. When things are faster, sweeter or sunnier, lighter, cleaner or easier than they were the day before or the last time you tried something, it’s worth taking a moment and celebrating.

Any movement in the right direction is no small thing.