It’s November. I have to keep repeating that to myself in order to remember. It’s November. It’s time for sweaters and thick socks and many layers because, you know, it’s 70 degrees outside.
There are just so many ways in which I am not at all ready for this time of year. And the realization of that hit this weekend. Call is seasonal depression or call it denial, I just realized how much it sucks. I always thought Fall was my favorite season. Who am I kidding? It’s cold and windy and I have concrete floors under my frozen toes. The sun is hiding for more than half the day and my bed looks good by 6pm. What little color I could enjoy during the summer has turned to brown and did I mention I don’t enjoy shivering in a hot shower?
No, I think it’s official. Fall is no longer my favorite time of year. I’m jumping ship and heading for the Springtime camp. I’m wanting toasty sunshine on my face, a warm breeze on my back and cool dirt in my hands. I’m craving new beginnings and excited days. Spring cleaning, bare feet and camisoles. Wide open windows and blossoming trees.
I’m doing what I can to battle this annual slump. Curling up in my Granny’s quilt, reading stories intended to inspire and uplift or books with happy endings. They help some. And then the sun sets at 4:30 and I can no longer read the pages without an artificial light burning my retinas. So I shuffle around, to make dinner or clean up my neglected home and that ugly feeling of sadness pops back up. I read the lack of sun decreasing serotonin levels in your brain. Or some jibberish that really makes little difference when all you want is May.
I do have some things to look forward to…a Sustainable Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. My doctor removing the heavy lifting restriction and allowing me to scramble to get some yard work done or my home rearranged and organized before it really gets cold, some thrift store shopping for winter clothes, and honing my knitting skills (thank you for getting my started Rachel…now how exactly do I finish?).
Most of all, I look forward to this passing as I know it will. Within a week or so (or within minutes of posting), after I’ve allowed it to run some of it’s course, my resolve will take over or my serotonin levels will adjust and I’ll feel happy and determined never to let the sun rule my mood again. For now I’ve got my cozy robe and my fuzzy socks and I’m off to find another book.
I'm Tara Wagner, life coach and creator of the Digging Deep process, where I coach women out of survival mode to recreate their lives and families.
Oh my, Tara. 70 degrees! Well as you know from my blog post today it’s in the 20s here in Minnesota this week, but I guess whatever temps you’re used to, is what you’re used to. I am feeling the same way you are, mainly because of the darkness. So I can relate, even though your temps sound heavenly to me!
I’m really going to try and get more exercise, as that always helps. Finding that time is so hard, though! (Of course, I could blog and read blogs less LOL.) Also have to step up the cod liver oil each day, as that helps my vit. D levels, my mood, my skin, my eyesight, everything!
Take care and hope you feel better.
The very idea of 20 makes me ill, Lisa! We only occasionally get that low in the dead of winter, in an unusual cold spell, in the middle of the night. I’m mostly being sarcastic with 70 degrees, although that is pretty chilly to me. But I’m still not use to how cold the house gets with these floors so I tend to assume it must be freezing outside and dare not venture out into it! I went out after posting this and was shocked it was warmer than my house! LOL
I know exercise would help me too but hell if I’ll actually do it. LOL Cod liver though huh? That I can look into.
Thanks Lisa. Hope you’re feeling well too. Stay warm!!!
Tara,
Let’s have another visit and I’ll show you!
i have to say .. fall has always been my favorite season too, and i think it’s beginning to lose its allure.
between halloween, thanksgiving, and three fall family birthdays, plus work that tends to come in a lump right when the weather is nicest, it seems like there are only a handful of really beautiful days and i’m never available to enjoy them. boo.
my one piece of advice for you & your cold toes is .. new slippers! they cheered me up at least 15%. ;^)
I’ve never been a slipper person (I tend to trip over them LOL) but I did find some new fluffy cotton knit socks the other day, Lori! Its been much warmer these past few days so I’ve been whining less…for now.