The lonely hours

I'm beginning to suspect November might be a month of lists. Day #2 of NaBlow and I'm offering up another one.

Yesterday around four-thirty, a horrific melancholy washed over me like tar. I felt sad and couldn't quite figure out why. Then I realized: it's November, durr. When we have only dark days and bleak winds to look forward to.

So here I give you Ways To Not Let The Impending Doom Of Winter Get Me Down.

1. I will not acknowledge the time of day known as 3:30 pm until 5:30 pm. I will simply shut all the blinds and pretend it is already night, which is not nearly as depressing to me as cold, drippy dusk.

2. I will also pretend the end of daylight-savings is not nigh. I will keep my clocks set on Summer all year.

3. I am reading only cotton candy books. No Gabriel García Márquez or anything else thinky. Only novels with pastel covers and bouncy fonts will be checked out of the library with my card.

4. I intend to invest heavily in candles as they make me feel that I'm cozy and safe even when the clouds outside are grazing the treetops.

5. I am rearranging my Netflix queue so just comedies will be sent my way. Nothing the slightest bit anxiety-provoking or angst-inducing allowed. You're not invited to the party, Blue Valentine.

6. I will attempt to amp up my workouts to boost my woefully substandard serotonin levels. Because the all-mighty serotonin does not realize how much it is needed November through February and, despite medication, likes to go on frequent holidays.

7. I'll do my best to get out and about during the day rather than sitting on my couch, listening to my Chill Out/Make Out stream on Pandora, and working/writing as I'm prone to do. Which, though peaceful, can feel rather forlorn.

8. I will read celebrity gossip to keep my mind off things that matter.

9. The next time time Requiem for a Dream comes on Squeezebox, I will banish it and every station that contains it from my preferences.

10. I will think how lucky I am to have all of the above at my disposal and not be a squirrel who has to spend its entire life sitting on a wet branch in the dank soup that is Seattle weather. Then again, squirrels probably don't suffer from SAD or have to scurry to soak in all the day's Good before the lonely hours set in.

Comments

[Rachael]

Yes. Pacific Northwest winters... so gloomy sometimes. I will notice every single beautiful fall colored tree I see, and drink hot chocolate. LOTS of hot chocolate.

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

I spent 24 years of my life on the wet side of the state, so I understand. Nothing wrong with surrounding yourself with things that make you happy! And yes, getting out of the house is a good plan. Gym? Mall-walking? (I doubt walking in the rain is the best of plans.)

[Jennifer Jo]

The Christmas isle at Walmart (even though I hate Walmart) is a good place to buy white votives in bulk. I'll be stocking up for the year.

[Jennifer Jo]

Good heavens, it's "aisle." Forgive me.

[V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios]

Now I'm *sure* we're related.