Saturday, September 24, 2011

Don’t Allow the Changing Seasons to Bring you Down

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

I am glad you are back and you probably thought I had given up on this blog.  I assure you this is not the case.  The problem stems from a schedule overloaded with responsibilities.  There’s no complaining here, because I am grateful for the opportunities I have through my ministry and community involvement.  I have also taken on a part-time job to supplement my income (more about that another time).  So, there are a number of lessons here about time management, being involved, and getting out there and celebrating life among the living.  Locking ourselves away from the world and lying in a bed of self-pity is a recipe for disaster.  Life is too short; get out and live it to the fullest.   

Speaking of living life to the fullest, no doubt you have noticed the coming of fall and the changes accompanying the season.  There is a cool freshness in the air, the leaves are beginning to fall, the days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting longer.  Right behind this wonderful season is winter – not such a bad time of the year if you confront it properly.  Now, I will save this for another blog, but one of my greatest joys is taking my dog for a walk on a cold brisk night with the newly fallen snow crunching under my boots.  Indeed, this lets me know I am fully alive.  I have a feeling our new puppy, Leon, is going to love winter.  Leon is a Golden Retriever / Great Pyrenees mix and his zest for life is already begun to be demonstrated on many levels.   

Be careful not to allow the change in season to bring you down.  One of our greatest natural resources for self-therapy, sunshine, is going to be in short supply.  Therefore, consider these tips for better coping with the changing seasons: 

  • Get out of the house every day and take advantage of any sunshine available.  If nothing else open the curtains and sit in the sunlight shining through the window. 
  • Begin and maintain a disciplined exercise routine.  I have been pounding on this throughout numerous blog posts, yet it cannot be overstated.  Diet and exercise are directly related to our overall mood and outlook.
  • Even on cold days bundle up and take a brisk walk. 
  • If you can work it into your schedule (and you probably can) get involved in some sort of volunteer work.  Your local hospital is a great place to start.
  • Resolve to be a nicer, gentler, and more optimistic person.  Encourage those around you with a warm smile and a helping hand. 
If you are down in a pit of depression there is hope for a brighter day.  This blessed time is within reach and absolutely possible.  Take the first step, right now, toward recovery.  You will be happy again.