It’s Normal to be SAD at Christmas
By: Marilyn Flower
Tags: Sad, Weather, Writing Prompts, Wisdom, Mental Health

Many of us are finely tuned in to the weather — like a favorite radio station.

As a heat-sensitive person, there are (summer mostly) days that I take the temperature of my day by looking at how cool or hot it will be.

Living in a dry area, I’m always checking for the slightest hint or prediction of rain. And we finally got a deluge last night. It didn’t just rain; it poured. And we so needed it!

I love falling asleep to the sound of rain on the roof. Remember that song by the Lovin’ Spoonful, Rain on the Roof?

The Oakland Museum once had a top-rated art installation, basically a little room with rain falling on its tin roof. We’d call it a water feature nowadays. Museum-goers would sit in there for a good long time soaking up the vibes and negative ions.

In the SF Bay Area, we rarely have lightning and thunder. But when we do, it’s an event. We sit by the windows transfixed. It usually only lasts a few minutes. I miss the heavy-duty thunderstorms of the midwest. Where you might even have hail in the summer. And always something to talk about.

VS here: More sun. Ho-hum. Pretty cool. Going down to the low 40’s tonight, so bundle up. Meanwhile, much of our country is sloshing through the snow, putting chains on tires, boots on kids, Muk-Muks on their feet.

And gearing up for a white Christmas.

Straight out of the Bing Crosby song, or a Norman Rockwell painting.

But even in areas where it does snow. It’s not like it comes when bidden. It could be a few flakes or a car-burying blizzard. Not sure how Santa navigates all that. Is his sleigh heated? If so, that must cost a pretty penny, given he rides with the top down, right?

Weather affects our moods. Hence often this time of year, we’re SAD — from Seasonal Affective Disorder. A gloomy day, a gloomy mood. Bright day, bright mood.

A note about SAD from the Mayo Clinic:

It’s normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or think about suicide.

Then there’s geography.

Some of us live in warmer climes. We wrap Christmas lights around palm trees. And run the air conditioner all month long. People in the southern hemisphere celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer.

Christmas lights on palm trees

But somehow the music hasn’t changed. No one sings. I’m dreaming of a warm Christmas, just like the ones I used to know…A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a summer wonderland.

I guess the northern hemisphere dominates the world culturally in this area as well as a bunch of others.

So how is it for you? How does your weather and/or geography affect you this time of year?

I’ll go first.

As I said, we’ve been blessed with rain. It perks me up; I breathe deeper, enjoying the fresh, earthy smells. The air is cleaner after a shower — no smog. You can see all the way across the bay, and things pop.

I pop. Come alive. Make a point of taking long walks between showers. I don’t mind getting wet.

Coming back afterward feels warm and cozy. Sipping hot, salted caramel cocoa, face-timing with my sister and her granddaughter while her kids sleep off their jet lag — heaven!

If it weren’t for COVID, I would be in New Mexico with all of them. Since I can’t, this is the next best thing. If I’m lucky, they’ll take me with them electronically on Christmas Eve when they go half-way up Sandia Peak to see the luminaria. And there might even be snow!

Photo by Ryan Magsino on Unsplash

And I’ll take them with me to Thompson Street in Alameda to see the extra special holiday lights. Or the lighted yacht parade in the Oakland estuary off of Jack London Square from the less crowded Alameda side.

Fortunately, COVID hasn’t found a way to dim the Christmas lights. Since that’s one thing we still can do, we’ll put those extra special touches on it.

Okay, now it’s your turn. How does your weather and/or geography affect you this time of year? Are you SAD?

We look forward to hearing your stories!