Rutherford County, TN - This is the weekend that we "spring forward". Yes, and the weather will even feel like spring! Rutherford County will be enjoying sunshine and 60s Sunday; reaching near 70 Monday, and the mercury will soar to the mid-70s by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) has a fascinating history and continues to spark debates about its relevance and impact. Here's a quick dive into its origins and current discussions:

The History of Daylight-Saving Time

• Early Ideas: Benjamin Franklin humorously suggested in 1784 that waking up earlier could save on candle usage, but it wasn't a serious proposal. The modern concept of DST was first proposed by New Zealand entomologist George Hudson in 1895 and later championed by British builder William Willett in 1907.
• First Implementations: Germany and Austria-Hungary were the first to adopt DST in 1916 during World War I to conserve energy. The United States followed suit in 1918, but it was repealed after the war due to public opposition.
• Standardization: The Uniform Time Act of 1966 brought consistency to DST in the U.S., setting nationwide start and end dates. Adjustments were made over the years, including extending DST in 2007 to its current schedule of March to November.

Year-Round DST

While no U.S. state currently observes DST year-round, some states have passed legislation to do so if federal law permits. Globally, countries like Russia and Belarus have experimented with permanent DST but faced challenges, such as darker winter mornings, which led to public dissatisfaction.

Public Sentiment

Feelings about DST vary widely. Proponents argue that it provides more daylight for activities and reduces energy consumption. Critics highlight health risks, such as disrupted sleep patterns, and question its modern-day benefits. Surveys often show mixed opinions, with some favoring permanent standard time instead.

As we "spring forward" this weekend, it's a great time to reflect on how this practice connects us to history and the rhythms of nature. And yes, let's "sing in the sunshine" and enjoy the longer evenings ahead!

Mood of Excitement

The transition to Daylight Savings Time brings a mood of excitement, and the conversation arises again of whether to keep DST with us year around or leave it seasonally. In my mind, I wonder if the reason we have different time zones might enter a move like this. We have the zones because the sun rises and sets at different times, thus your time zone is tied to sun rise and set times. Are there places that have gone to year around "savings time"? What are the feelings of the people living in those areas. Plus, the younger population is always amazed to learn that DST is not new. It's been around for a while.

The main thing to remember, we "spring forward" this weekend into DST. The official transition time is 2:00AM this Sunday morning (3/9/2025). Like the old song says, "We'll sing in the sunshine", and that sounds great to me! Keep on singing until the other side of the poem appears.

The other part is "fall back", but don't fret pretty pet--that won't roll around until Nov. 2, 2025.  

"A word to the wise"--before you go to bed this Saturday night, set you clock ahead one-hour. In other words, if you go to bed at 10:00 o'clock, change your time-piece to read 11:00PM. And get ready to enjoy the sunshine!