Nyctophilia is defined as the love of darkness or the night. For many people, including myself, relaxation and comfort can often be found in the dark. The night provides a peace and solitude that cannot be matched when the sun is up. In order to accommodate an affinity for the night, some may become insomniacs, or simply operate on a non-traditional sleep schedule--I personally function best on a biphasic sleep schedule. While I don't recommend forgoing your rest completely, the night should never be totally wasted on something as trivial as sleep. Because while the rest of the world is asleep, you are awake; you are free.
While many of my nights are spent in my apartment doing homework, writing or watching a movie, the majority of my nights are filled with exploration of the world around me. When you're out in the wee hours of the morning at around three or four, you discover a whole other side to your city.
You'll likely find that most of your usual daytime visiting spots are closed. But over the course of your exploration, you'll come across places you didn't even know existed. I split my time between New York City and Charleston, South Carolina. Living in one very big city and one much smaller, I've discovered that the size of your city doesn't really matter.
When I'm in Charleston, I'm driving through the night, blasting music and smoking a cigarette. I'm on the pier at Pitt Street, looking at the Ravenel Bridge lit up in the distance. I'm in a stranger's house on James Island, dancing to experimental EDM. I'm parked at Faison Field watching the lights of the airport's runway blink in the darkness. I'm strolling the empty beaches of Isle of Palms, waiting for baby sea turtles to hatch.
When I'm in New York, I'm walking miles around Manhattan, eating a McDonald's sundae and avoiding eye contact with strangers. I'm sitting on a bench on Pier 15, writing poetry in a black notebook. I'm climbing over rocks to walk Brooklyn's beach along the East River. I'm at South Street Seaport's abandoned Fish Market, looking for new graffiti. I'm wandering around Van Cortlandt Park when I probably shouldn't be in the Bronx late to begin with. I end up in Queens because I accidentally took the wrong train.
It doesn't matter what city I'm in as long as I'm exploring what the night has to offer. Not only have I found cool places, but I've formed amazing friendships. There's just something about the nighttime that opens you up to the people you're around. You could find yourself sharing your deepest secrets with someone you've only known for three hours, or you could discover a whole new aspect of your own personality. You can explore alone or with friends. You can go out at midnight or five in the morning. You might make a wrong turn sometimes, but don't be afraid of the dark. Explore where you are, because you never know what or who you may find.
