As the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer, I grow moodier and darker. This fall I was hopeful that I would avoid that darker side. I had made so many changes last winter and spring – added exercise to my routine, gone through talk therapy for an 40-year old unforgiveness issue, ask for and gotten additional support at work, cut back my hours and work and started my life coaching business – the calling of my life. Whew! Was that enough to keep me happy and light? What is this stuff, God?
After last winter’s deep depression, and hard work to change, I really had been hopeful that this winter would be different. The lack of sunlight brings on the craving of carbs, weepiness, extreme tiredness, edgy nerves, crabiness and general dark feeling about the world. I had already begun light box therapy and with my exercise three times a week, was hopeful, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) would be kept at bay.
No such luck! Over the past week or so, I have cried more, slept more, ate more and snapped at others more than I had all summer and I was mad! Mad I wasn’t healed after all my changes. Mad I was facing another potential dark winter. Mad at the work it takes to be happy! How’s that for crazy thinking?!
However, as I was venting to God and praying, He reminded me of the gifts SAD had brought me – knowledge of Him and myself, letting go of unforgiveness, setting up a new pattern of exercise and eating nutriously, and getting changes at my work so I could begin my own coaching business to which He had called me to work with other women. Wow, what amazing gifts!
At the moment, therefore, I am grateful for the darkness. I am much healthier and self-aware. I have hope that this winter, indeed, will be different. I’ve already discovered that being outside, even on cloudy days makes a significant difference. I also am reaching out to other women to ask them what they are taking on this winter’s journey so we can travel in community.
How about you? What silver lining is the darkness bringing you? What are you discovering about yourself ? How are you caring for yourself? I would love to know.
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.