Daylight Savings Time; and the Struggle Within

As a scientist I am keenly aware that humans are not as far removed from our animal selves as we would like to believe. We, as a species, have done great things with our human brains. We have built cultures, fantastic art, invented Jazz, and learned to distill spirits…..but we should not fool ourselves. We have also destroyed cultures, eliminated species, censored art, and drink in excess, all the while progressively becoming more uncomfortable with the human body’s myriad forms and functions.   

In my eyes, the problems we face in this world stem from our animal selves having trouble adapting to our modern world. We have a repressed innate need to breed, control resources, and be the top dog.  As humans we find ourselves in a unique position, the greatest challenges we face as a species (war, climate change acceleration, religion, Teflon plumbers tape, science fair projects, overly tight underwear, etc.) are all functions of our human brain advancing technology and culture faster than our repressed instincts can catch up.  Turns out our brain stem is in remedial social studies, while our frontal lobes are sailing through advanced mechanical engineering.

This weekend an event occurred that reminded me how combative the internal struggle is between our modern brains and our basic needs.  No I’m not referring our societies ridiculous double standard of elevating Victoria’s Secret Angel while shaming pictures of breast feeding mothers…..although I should be. Everyone loves a boob.

Digression Aside, I’m referring too:  Dun Dun Dahhhhh!!!! Daylight Savings Time (DLST) 

                                                !! Gasp !!

In the United States, only Arizona has excepted itself from DLST. In fact, even within Arizona, factions exist. The Navajo Reservation chooses to adhere to the new norm of DLST, most of the Northeast part of Arizona plays nice with the rest of the country and changes its clocks while the rest of Arizona somehow prefers its sunrises at 6AM in the summer.

Here in New Mexico, I cherish DLST.  It allows me time to enjoy the sun, and get some yard work done after a day in the office.  Also, it keeps the sun from poking its head into my bedroom window until a more respectable hour.  I thought about this on Saturday while dusk fell around 6PM. “Tomorrow”, I thought,” “More daylight to spend, allowing more work, all to the better.”

Sunday came and I spent the early morning with a pot of coffee, the newspaper and the internet, bulking up on my current events and the lives I’m connected to on the Big Book of Faces.  At the time I read a few of the set pieces lamenting the lost economic potential caused by DLST, the loss of sleep, the mental trauma caused by a shift in our circadian rhythm. I found it comical, “Who doesn’t want more sun in the evening?”   was my thought…… “So why is this one change receive such critical press?” I set about putting the mental notes together for my next blog piece.  My plan was to make the point that we face countless changes to our circadian rhythms….we travel, we have kids, we wake by the clock rather than the crow of the rooster.  Dawn is not a fixed time, it changes….and on and on.  If you read my blog, you know how I rant. 

Then I went to work…..

We had such success last year in the garden, and my thirst for fresh home grown tomatoes is so strong, I agreed  to redesign our family garden. This involved a new wall, and moving vast amounts or rock, earth and brick. Sunday was irrigation installation day.  It is not easy to maneuver my frame into the contortions required to get the irrigation in the hole….but I did it, and then shoveled dirt. By the end of my fist DLST extended day I could barely lift my arms.  

Showered, Advil’d, and ate dinner and waited in my chair for sleep to come…then moved to the bed for sleep to come, and waited some more.  I recall checking the time at 2am which is about an hour after my usual bedtime, and the specter of DLST first announced itself…..was I awake after spending a full day working due to the clock shift?  Then as if in response to my last conscious thought, the alarm rang……the clock read 6:10 but if asked  my body would tell you it was far earlier.  My fears were confirmed.  DLST stole an hour from me……

Truth be told waking up hurt…my body hated me, and my mind was a bit dis-joined, but I have survived worse as a father.  You have survived worse too.  I remain convinced that the purported economic impact of DLST is an economists dissertation thesis inflated by the media to bombastic proportions.  

Can't Believe I found this....wonder if its real or a joke.

See, the very abilities that allow our minds to be in conflict between our basic needs and our evolving culture, our ability to adapt as only humans can, allows us to overcome this subtle change in our clocks.  Our circadian rhythm, which is bastardized by clocks and schedules year round, will adjust….life will go on.

Typically, I’m the first to recognize that our most basic and unplugged experiences in life, are the best.  Food for the soul and the brain stem.  These enjoyments don’t all need to be purely animal, but they shouldn’t stray far from that realm.  In fact I like to mix the modern and the basic....a fine spirit and a sun set….not to shabby.  But we also need to make exceptions for a bit more of our modern world and recognize that the good in DLST far outweighs the pain of a missed hour of sleep. Get over it or move to Arizona!

To wit, I don’t feel the need to move to Arizona.