The Dark Night

Night. Darkness. There is just something enticing about the late evening. Why has the night scene always been so seductive and why does it seem that some places "come to life" at night? My guess: evening allows one to become somebody that they can't be during the day. Think about all those co-workers you work with that seem to be dull and lifeless but if seen late evening are like an entirely different person. One reason for this change may be that we can step back and allow the shadows to envelope us, thus allowing our personality to shine. During the daytime many of us are self-conscious, but slipping into the night's embrace emboldens us with new confidence. The little voice in our head that says "they'd like you if they only got to know you" gains new strength and suddenly you are able to enjoy yourself free from the eyes of the world.

Another reason, I think, why midnight's siren call awakens a stirring in us is because at times it can seem as if the world has stopped just for us. Think about the crazy speed and pace of your day-to-day life... and how different it can seem in the wee hours of the morning (provided you aren't tossing and turning in bed). Throughout my life I have loved staying up until the world begins to go to bed. A late night walk can be so relaxing and you can hear yourself think without worrying about being interrupted (unless of course you have friends in other time zones... like say you lived in NYC and you had friends in ummm Oregon). Final verdict: if you aren't the type to usually stay up, try it with a friend or spouse and you might be surprised how much you enjoy it.