52 Essays: Embrace Winter; It's Her Anyways

Seasonal depression, am I right? Tis the season for what? Arriving to work late? Sure the trains are slowing back up due to the time of year; but you also hit snooze 3 times more than usual. For some reason it's just harder to get out of bed. Tis the season for who? Rich people who don't stress about gift checklists? Families, who have holiday traditions to share? People who don't have to be reminded their loved one is no longer at the Thanksgiving table? While the winter is supposed to embody the holiday joy, for many this is not the case. The cold makes us sad. There are reasons that are totally valid, but I wonder; can we curb the depression that rolls around in November?

Weight gain. Sleep loss. Over sleeping. Declining to go out. Weight loss. Not eating. Over eating. Drinking. Whichever bad habit it is for you returns seven folds when it starts to get colds. I get sad for various reasons.

I was so upset I didn't wear enough dresses. I told myself that over the summer I'd wear so many cute dresses and skirts. The skirts with buttons down the middle came back into style and I just knew I'd find one. That never happened. It bummed me out. The fact that I kept covering my eczema on my legs bummed me out. So many trivial summer style ideas bummed me out. When it's cold there's no wearing them now.

Juvenile but genuine sentiments. Reasons of more merit also brought me down. Daylights savings was a hard time for me. Coming out of work to a black sky daily, for months is soul crushing. Knowing you only have your lunch break to cap off of the sun, if it even comes out that day, gives one anxiety.

Then of course thinking about the holidays and every feeling that conjures up. There are the woes regarding finances, travel, dating, family, and just feeling the holiday spirit the way everyone else around you so evidently experiences it. There's a lot to take in. Life continues at this insanely accelerated pace that reminds you that it has to all be done over again except with a year older and more life realizations. It sucks; and still this is a season to love. Maybe we have to work harder to create our love for this season. It may not show up in peppermint flavored coffee or ugly sweater parties, but it is there is we look for it.

As much as I cannot stand the cold dark evenings, one way I've remedied this is by taking a long walk in it. I'd walk a couple of train stations over and just embrace the weather. So what it's colder and darker? I can still walk. And I love walking. I also listened to some Christmas songs. "Carol of the Bells" is one of my favorites; hearing all the versions of it, with old choir ladies really going for that note, also brighten up my day.

Get a sweater in your favorite color. Drink hot chocolate. Enjoy the Christmas lights. Whatever you have to do to enjoy yourself this season, do it. Us being sad doesn't stop the winter from coming. There's no simple way to cure one's depression. There is however, a simple way to make yourself feel warm even on the coldest day.