Holiday Funk

Holiday Funk.

Holiday Funk

“When you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun.  Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”  ~ Dr. Seuss                                              

Ahhh….today in Georgia was a small slice of heaven for me.  Waking to temperatures in the 20’s and hearing the gentle hum of the furnace, reminding me that yes, it’s working, and untangling myself from a heavy blanket… the beginnings of a perfect day.  Add to that bright sunshine dappling through trees, lighting my kitchen with that early morning, nearly blinding brightness only found this time of year.  Knowing that I was going to make a big pot of butternut squash soup and take the dogs for a late afternoon walk in the field near our home, dressed in my favorite stretchy, warm sweater.  A perfect, perfect day. Winter is near. I can feel it in my bones. Count me in the weirdo group who loves winter. Fall will always be number one, but winter is a close second.  Last weekend, Brian and I were walking on a beautiful trail nearby and he said, “This day reminds me of you.”  It’s this time of year, 31 years ago, that we met and fell in love.

 Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, is two weeks away. I love the food, the preparation of it, the savory goodness of turkey and stuffing, harvest vegetables, and pumpkin pie.  Reminders of the earth and this country’s beginnings and all we have to be thankful for.  I love having the kids home for the long weekend, roaming in and out of the kitchen.  I don’t even mind doing most of the cooking myself. I kind of lose myself in the busyness.

 And what about Christmas?  Love it too.  Love the music, the cold, the church services, the traditional food, the opening and reading of holiday cards. I especially love photo cards and letters from far away relatives and friends. A lit-up Christmas tree on a dark night is a beautiful thing.

So what’s with the “funky feeling?”  Why, with Thanksgiving two weeks away and gorgeous, literally breathtaking sunny days with vibrant leaves cascading across lawns, do I year after year find myself in a funk right about now?

 Could it be that I’m anticipating winter so much that these up-and -own temperatures of Georgia, 70’s one day, 50’s the next, keep me in flux?  Because the season can’t decide what to do, is that why I can’t?

Winter is a time when I get a renewed sense of energy.  I like to start new projects after the “mess” of Christmas is put away.  I’m excited about new resolutions: fitness plans, personal goals, second (and third, and fiftieth) chances.  But for some reason, the eve of this season finds me in an abyss. There’s a silent ache that is unexplainable, so I just hang on and ride it out.

 The beauty of being older, though, is that I know that as the seasons change, so will I.  I know this feeling of darkness is temporary.  I know what to do about it too.  Get outside.  Go for a walk, even if takes extra effort.  Make a pot of soup. Write about it. And not to belabor or trivialize what we are bombarded with every day on Facebook during November, count your blessings.  Name them one by one. And then your sorrow will be undone. (I know there’s a version of that out there somewhere – this is mine.)

 In two weeks, it will be Thanksgiving.  I will be blissfully happy and genuinely thankful that all 3 of my grown children will be home and I have people to cook and care for. I will be thankful for all of my many blessings, my friends, and my family whom I love, but are too far away to spend the day together.  In the meantime, I’m appreciating and accepting this blip in my blissfulness. I am embracing this season, as well. Let me share a quote from Anne Bradstreet that sums up my “funky feeling”: 

 “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Embrace your season, whichever one you are currently in. 

Surely I’m not the only one out there who knows what I’m feeling? What gets you out of your funk?