Posts

Showing posts from February, 2023

Not Just Living for the Sun | Facing Depression with Human Connections

Image
Yesterday was the first warm sunny day we've had here in the Keweenaw in awhile. Most of us took a moment to bask in the glow of sunlight (I went to the beach to listen to the waves), but we can't live only for the sunny days. We need to know how to cope with the gloomy days too- because there's not a single person who doesn't have them. It's going to rain and snow sometimes. This time of year, the cabin fever blues (aka seasonal depression from lack of sunlight) is common around here. One of my friends made a comment recently that last winter she was depressed and really only enjoyed the handful of days she spent on vacation in the south. This winter she's been trying to get out and enjoy the snow, embrace the simple joys like a good cup of coffee, and live for each day- not just the sunny ones. She's right, we can't only deal with our feelings on good days. We have to process bad emotions too. The idea of feeling our emotions fully is rarely talked abo