Thursday, February 13, 2014

Thoughtless Thursday: 2 Grateful 4 SAD

Do you get SAD? As in Seasonal Affective Disorder? I get clobbered every winter. I thought I had it beat this year when the New Year rolled in without the winter blahs rolling in first. 

But. Then came the Polar Vortex, and winter is lingering like a dog's toot at a holiday party.  SAD has been seeping in with the cold draft under the door. But over the years I've learned to count my blessings for the comforts and strategies that combat SAD.

Thanks, Chocolate
Preferably dark. Hot cocoa works too. Seriously, there are studies. You can look it up on the internet. 

Thanks, Gas Fireplaces
Warm and beautiful on the grayest of days. This is especially effective if you have a window view from the couch. Just bask in the warmth as you literally laugh in the face of Old Man Winter.

Thank you, Dog That Must Be Walked
Ever heard that if you feel depressed you need to get up and get out no matter how impossible it seems? Dog owners with the blues have an infallible enforcer of compliance with that prescription. Nothing like a whiny, stir-crazy dog alternately pleading and eyeing me with contempt to get me off the couch and into my long underwear. Before you know it I'm laughing at the ugliest snow princess ever to grace a suburban yard. 
Need proof? 
Exhibit A

Thank you,  Fiction Writers
They take us out of our heads and into someone else's for a while. The best of them remind me that my problems are rather silly compared to the insurmountable crises their characters overcome.

Thanks, Friends and Family, Part I
They don't realize the magic. As my daughter says when thanked, "Of course"! But those daily contacts, real or virtual, are life-giving. On a gloomy day, getting a few "likes" on a Facebook link makes me feel like appreciated. Whether it's skyping with a grandchild, getting texted a photo of the snow from an adult daughter's back porch, holding hands at the movies with my spouse, or hearing about a friend's vacation, it lifts my spirits. Depression corrodes self-worth. It may be self-centered, but this is a time when I need to be reminded that others care.

Thanks, Friends and Family, Part II
The other side of that coin is doing things for others. "Like" their photo on Facebook, send them an e-card, do one of your spouse's usual chores, bring home a surprise bottle of wine, fix a special dessert…whatever it is that you do for a family member or friend, it just plain feels good. A little bit of 'pay it forward' for a total stranger works too. Tiny stuff - like letting someone in front of me in traffic - is enough to improve my day.

Not a complete list, is it? Do you get SAD? If so, what do you do that lifts your spirits while waiting for Spring?

11 comments:

  1. I have hard of SAD! Your post is quite similar to bichonpawz! It must be depressing living in the snow season with early sundowning. I have been doing ok here in california but I feel for you two! Happy Thoughtless Thursday....and just in case, my sapien thought she should prevent SAD by munching on a chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, I love your list! My Hunny gets the SADs, and I kick him out of the house. I actually send him to the gym. It usually works really well. I also make him call friends and hang out with them. Being around people outside of family works.
    www.dogtreatweb.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. We don't have SAD luckily but that list looks good to us anytime. Have a tremendous Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

    ReplyDelete
  4. Skyping yesterday was so fun ... the aftermath wasn't pretty, though! THe kids were really really mad at me for shutting down the computer. They wouldn't stop crying, but wouldn't let me hug them. I was definitely the bad guy! Oreos fixed it all, though! haha

    PS - it started snowing again, we have about 15 inches now! crazy!!!

    love you!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful post! I'm lucky I not longer have SAD (live in SoCal) but when I did live in Northern Idaho and New Hampshire I had it bad. Those are all great things to do to help it. Love the ice princess (and the reflection of your ironing board in the fireplace glass ;) ) Happy Thoughtless Thursday and Valentine's Day. FireBonnet and 2catsandacattledog

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well as a dog thats part of our job, keep the peeps happy. The fireplace makes us happy cause we sit with our peeps and stay warm and friends and family make us very happy when they come over to visit. Yep that does make us feel better!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hmmm, maybe I get a touch of this. Mostly just not wanting to get up and out of bed in the mornings! Thankfully it's not that cold here... that snow-lady is hilarious too btw! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  8. I know people that suffer during this time of the year. I don't but I always look forward to spring. Of course, we don't get snowed in every year! BOL

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think the whole seasonal thing affects everybody in one way or another, for instance my huskies......once snow hits the ground, are the happiest they could possibly be. That helps me through winter days because it is absolutely hilarious watching them romp around in the snow! Also building snowmen and things with my kids help the cold days go by nicely :)
    Thanks for linking up with Ruckus and I for thoughtless Thursday!
    ((husky hugz))
    Frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have to say I am over snow but this is a good list
    Retro rover

    ReplyDelete
  11. Grrr. Blogger ate our comment when we tried to sign in.

    We make Jan get out and walk with us. But this winter we've been missing quite a few because of horrible weather.

    ReplyDelete

We love to know what you have to meow, bow-wow, growl, or just plain howl. Leave a comment for us!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...