Once the twinkling glittering holidays are past, we all know the next few months will remain dark even though daylight has begun its inchworm return. Those of us who awake before sunrise and leave work after sunset feel as though we live in the dark. Even in daylight, color is gone, trees are bare, everything seems cold and gray – including us. We seem to be living in a black and white movie.If we are grieving a recent loss, we’ve been hit with a double whammy. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, can bring depression and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities. The winter months challenge the quality of life, and guess what? The acronym is appropriate because its symptoms are so similar to those of grief!
Craving sweets and comfort foods or finding no food that seems appetizing? Sleeping all night and drowsing all day or waking at 1 am and walking the floor, praying for sleep? Am I grieving or am I just SAD. If we are grieving, it’s déjà vu all over again. We were already vulnerable to depression and gray days and long nights are the last thing we needed. We thought we were doing a little better, but suddenly we feel worse.
Short of spending big bucks on a trip to the tropics, what can we do? Turn on the lights and keep the house warm – it’s cheaper than a vacation and it will feel cozy and comfortable. If we can’t have color outside, we can have it inside – fresh flowers or flowering plants have an uplifting effect on the psyche. Hang out with kids – winter doesn’t slow them down. Bake something wonderful and invite friends or family over to help eat it. Plant bulbs and put them in a sunny window -- something beautiful will happen in just a few weeks. Wear bright colors – so people will tell us how good we look instead of saying we look tired.
It’s February, folks – which means beneath that brown grass and dead leaves, spring is already stirring, getting ready for her grand entrance, bringing light and life and color back into our world – and our hearts!