Preparing for the dark times.
I have a love/hate relationship with autumn.
It’s a stunningly beautiful season where I live and absolutely one of my favorites. The temperatures are fantastic, the foliage is gorgeous, in non COVID times harvest festivals abound, and I have a serious weakness for the combination of apples and cinnamon. Pumpkin spice, not so much.
So we tend to celebrate fall in a big way in our house. Even though the lad was a little under the weather yesterday, we made a Mabon apple cake that is the epitome of autumnal comfort food (and uses 4 sticks of butter), we spent some time enjoying the autumn sunshine, and I did the egg balancing trick. Yes it’s a thing. Yes it works. Here is the proof.
Today I have to really start tapping into the season in a different way. The descent into the dark is never a kind time for my psyche. Seasonal Affective Disorder has been a pretty big stumbling block for me, my whole adult life. And here’s the thing I’ve finally learned about it. If you wait until it gets you, it’s a seriously long slog to fight your way out of it.
So today I will get ahead of it. I’ll start adding extra vitamin D to my regime. I’ll set up the happy lights in a couple different rooms in the house, and I will rededicate myself to my yoga and walking routines. I’ll harvest what’s left to harvest, get the girls ready for winter and generally make a point to get out into the sun as much as I can during these short days.
If SAD is a thing for you, and particularly if you live in the north, consider this your friendly reminder. Winter is coming.
May you find your own ways to hold on to the light in the coming seasons. Happy Autumn!
Sounds like you’re doing everything right for the SAD. Mabon recipe???
What Judy said! xoxo