Thankfully, the Christmas lights (and their timers) have gone a long way in alleviating this problem. Not only do they make the house more festive, they also have reduced the number of times that I have stubbed a toe or tripped over something on my way to or from my bedroom. My only regret is that I haven't set up more of them. Unfortunately, the best places to put them are also the hardest to get to, hence my reluctance. For one window in particular, I would prefer if I also had the hardware to set up curtains so I only had to deal with being up on the ladder once.
Still, from this day on the days only get brighter. Sure the energy storage of our oceans means that the weather gets colder for the next couple of months, but seeing the sun set a little bit later each day is quite heartening (if blinding).