O Spring, Spring! Wherefore art thou Spring-time?
Deny thy winter and refuse thy snow.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but warmer my love,
And I’ll no longer be a hermit. (apologies to Mr. Shakespeare!)
These cold, dreary last days of winter have caught me in its claws. My heart feels like a stone, weighing me down. The politics of this world have made me pensive and sad. I eagerly look for signs of Spring. A warmth in the breeze, a bud on a tree, a crocus pushing up through the mire.
I love the winter when it is new and fresh, but now I am tired of the cold mud and gray skies. Forgive me for not posting lately. I just can’t seem to crawl out of this hole.
Wow! I wrote the above sentiments about 10 days ago, and a lot has happened since then! First of all, we had several beautiful, warm sunny days…that always cheers me up! Second, I met a beautiful family that I had been introduced to online (hmmm, that sounds kind of creepy, but we were introduced on facebook by a mutual friend!). They moved into my area and I dragged myself out of my slump and got to work on welcoming them to the area. They have 2 awesome little boys that I have had the great honor of babysitting (or practicing my grandparenting skills!) and in doing so, I feel recharged, refreshed and exhilarated!
Do you have something that can bring you up out of a low mood or depression? If you have a passion, hobby or something else that you have found that works for you, please share it with us! As a Christian, there are scripture verses that help encourage me when I am feeling sad, one of my favorites is
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
As a Nurse, I realize that sometimes I may need to consult a Doctor if I am feeling depressed and I cannot pull myself out of it. Depression can be a chemical imbalance in our brains or even a result of a long, dreary winter. SAD, or seasonal affect disorder occurs to some people when there is a drastic reduction in the amount of sunshine they are getting daily. It can help to get a full-spectrum light and sit under it for at least 30 minutes daily.
Or, in my case, maybe you just need to play with some incredibly cute kids! Thanks, Sheri!
