It has been said that spring is nature's way of saying “let's party.” And although it has technically been spring for some time now, the sun is just beginning to shine bright, the flowers are blooming, the trees are budding, and that newly awakened optimism that spent the winter in hibernation has finally come out to play (yay!). It is no secret that the turning of the seasons ignites a fire in us all -- we tend to become happier, more motivated, and more energized people -- but why?

Well, science has a little something to do with it. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is recognized as a mental illness that affects nearly three million Americans annually. Come winter, people with SAD experience a significant dip in serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood, appetite, sleep, memory, and libido. Many of us can relate to that wintertime slump, but just recently it has become a real “thing,” and that's just SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder has a true effect on many lives, but society, unfortunately, tends to romanticize mental illness, and somehow SAD has become the latest trend. Forget the expensive light therapy said to boost your mood -- the wintertime blues can be eased with a little bit of positive thinking. After all, you prepare your home, car, garden, and other things for the seasonal change, so why not your mind? We all experience days plagued by negative emotions or laziness, but feeding into this sadness will not be of any help. It might not always be sunny, but a sunny state of mind can do the job. Try creating a happy playlist, reflecting positively on your life, or reminding yourself daily of what you are grateful for. Easier said than done, of course, but we all have the capability to be the best versions of ourselves no matter the season, so why not give it a shot?

You can cut all of the flowers, but you can't stop spring from coming.