There is a lot going on - it’s getting colder, fall is definitely here, and people are busy (with harvest, sports, school stuff, etc.) People were blathering on about how autumn is their favorite time of the year … *sigh* … fall makes me sad. I love spring - I love the anticipation of warmer weather and getting outside and biking. I think I’m a little verklempt*. The wooly caterpillars I saw on the bike trail last week were mostly black, and this supposedly means a long hard winter. Fall to me is like a preview of a dreadful movie … a long, cold, dark dreadful movie (like any English movie from the eighties).**
SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is real though. As the days become shorter, and the cold weather is full blown - a lot of us become less happy. How do we get through these months? Help your friends, family, and coworkers by watching for signs of depression.
We don’t know what people are going through. When we are excited about upcoming games or holidays, we should be aware that not everyone feels this way. Practicing empathy, and trying to understand and appreciate where were people are at … happy, sad, excited, depressed … is never a bad practice.
*Overcome with emotion.
**The was general discussion about those who fought as long as they could to turn on their furnaces. “It was 59 in my house last night, and I finally had to cave in and turn on the furnace.” I don’t get this. I turned on my furnace (alternating between A/C and heat) back in August. There is no pride within me to be hardy. My life is best spent between 68 and 71 degrees. If I’m going to test my fortitude, it’ll be on something less … like eating a salad with low calorie dressing. Or avoiding dessert.
