For the Love of My Shades

Did anyone catch the little known fact about yesterday, June 27th?

Well, it was National Sunglasses Day!

Personally, I think every day should be National Sunglasses Day, because our eyes need all the TLC we can give them. Also, let's not forget the fine art of wrinkle prevention. I mean, seriously, does anyone want to look older than what their birth certificate indicates?

Although I wasn't privy to this "National Day" until after it was underway, you can believe I was an active participant...both for my early-morning run, and then for my post-workday 13-mile ride.

I'm not shy about admitting to my addiction to sunglasses. 

(this is only some of my fav shades)

All of my life, I've had very dry and sensitive skin, which translates to extremely dry facial skin. In other words, I'm horribly prone to wrinkles. 

As if the dry skin wasn't enough of a less-than-desirable reality, I also have sensitive eyes. Even after 5+ years of allergy shots and treatment (which ended about eight years ago), my eyes still give me trouble on occasion. Although I no longer have many issues with environmental irritants (like dust or pollen), the freezing cold air of winter can sometimes do a number on my tear ducts. Also, the psychotic wind (which seems to just be a constant these days) doesn't play nice. And, it's a given the bright sunlight is not our eyes' best friend (squinting is a sin, LOL).

Thankfully, I discovered this "ailment" as a teenager. I had to use better quality skincare products (or risk allergic reactions and/or rashes) and I've spent a good part of my outdoor life with my eyes protected. While all of those preventative measures seemed like a lot of work at times, those efforts rewarded me with pretty healthy skin for a "master" age group runner. 

Granted, I can attribute some of this to genetics, but I think learning to love and respect my skin's unique needs played a vital role. And, wearing sunglasses has been paramount.

I seldom, if ever, leave the house without some shades in position. I mean, why not? Not only are sunglasses fun (and fashionable) to wear, they protect your eyes from the sun as well shield the delicate skin surrounding them.

I almost always wear sunglasses when I run or am toeing a start line. Even on a cloudy day, LOL.

It's a given I'll have them on for biking. Not only is the sun bright, but the wind will feel even stronger when you're on wheels...and that wind can really wreak havoc, especially if you're coasting down a big hill. Also, there's the added "bug shield" protection (trust me, those little suckers can really sting if they find their way into your eyes).

Even just sitting perfectly still, on a somewhat hazy day, that sun can be pretty blindingly bright.

 Anyways, please wear your sunglasses, peeps! You don't need to be dressed in fitness gear or breaking a sweat, after all, to catch a glare from the sun. Walking out to the mailbox, driving across town, or even walking into the grocery store...all those "little" minutes squinting can really add up over the course of a lifetime.

So, my question for anyone reading this...do sunglasses play a vital role in your outdoor activities? If so, have you made it a habit to wear them often? Do you find yourself wearing a favorite pair more often than others? Or do you switch them around, depending on your outfit?

A few related posts:

Knockin' Around in my Knockarounds

My Summer Mileage Must-Haves

Favorite Finds in my Running Arsenal

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

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