Upcoming Labor Day Holiday

I admit it. I have seasonal affective disorder. I have known I had it all my life - even as a small child I hated winter. Yet this year, it's worse - much worse. Could be due to my recent hysterectomy and lack of any semblance of estrogen in my body, eh? I think it's actually due to a combination of things. For the first time in my life, I am living in a beach town. It's awesome. A dream. I feel so lucky to live here. But with that, it hits me in the face even more that, well, Labor Day is really the end of the summer. Oh sure, we'll have some wonderful days in September and October. But symbolically, it's the end of the "season". Stores here have CHRISTMAS things - yes, really!! Freaks me out. I mean, people - this is still AUGUST. I just really dread the long winter. It's very stark and deserted here in the winter. There are few places open and if they do stay open, they close by 5. So for me, they might at well be closed since I'm a workin' gal.

I have seriously thought about getting a SAD light - just to see if it helps. I'm already on medication which, obviously isn't worth the $70 copay I'm shelling out!! Guess it's time to try a new approach to this dark season in my life. See - I'm not even able to enjoy fall and the wonderful accompanying crisp mornings and evenings because I DREAD the dark dreary days of boring ho hum yawn winter. I have been mulling over in my head how to work on this problem and here's what I've come up with:

• check into the SAD light

• plan an outing each day - no matter how small, just to "connect" with someone (I work from home so seeing another human besides my husband is a treat)

• plan a BIG outing on weekends - go to a local festival, pig pickin', nice day trip, ETC - just something to do for a large chunk of time on weekends

• have lots of friends visit this winter - there are very very few places open to shop but it can still be fun just to hang with my buds

• volunteer! I have been fostering homeless kitties and I plan to continue - and possibly volunteer time at the local animal shelter this winter - what better way not to feel blue than to pet a few furry friends and make their lives a little brighter?

• get a dog. my husband and I have decided that it's the right time in our lives to devote attention and love to a rescue dog so I've put the word out that should a cat friendly one become available for adoption to please let us know! I need to make myself walk and what better way than to be accompanied by a buddy?
  

• cook! it's something I rarely do but making chili or spaghetti sauce or muffins is therapeutic to me when it's cold outside.

Okay - 'nuff bi*chin. I am going to focus more on the positives of living at the beach because even with SAD, I'm livin' a dream. I so love this place!! Happy Weekend everyone!