It's about that time of year that I start wishing for longer days & warmer nights. Days that will be spent with the sun kissing my skin & nights that'll feel like they have no end. I always notice myself reminiscing on these moments—flowers in full bloom, the feeling of warm leather seats pressed against my legs, toes in the water, the wind in my hair, hair tangled in my sunglasses, music blasting, people dancing... but never do I find myself thinking back on late autumn & winter the same way. With half of the year consisting of colder months, this just doesn't sit right with me. I spend multiple months of each year wishing it were another time. So many people also seem to feel this way & it makes me wonder what makes it so difficult for us to appreciate where we are now.
Now, first I want to address that this isn't your average how-to. In fact, I'm not even sure I know how to shake the funk. What I do know is that there are creatures out there that know how to work around, or rather with the set of circumstances that they're given & we can probably learn a little something from them. Certainly the shorter, darker days take a toll on our mental health & the cold leaves us not wanting to do much of anything outside, but what makes us give in?
While this is something I try to live by on a day-to-day basis, I believe that seeking out beauty in everyone & everything that I encounter is crucial during this time of year. It shows me that there's charm in the simplest of things as long as my eyes are open. The hummingbird is one of those special beings that I'm reminded of in times like these. I'm fascinated to know that those little creatures can beat their wings up to 80 times per second & the majority of the time they spend flying is due to their need to feed. Although their flights are beyond tiring, they still seek out the sweet nectar that they need in order to sustain themselves each day. Sure, this is a metaphor & it isn't quite that easy. I know that all too well. However, I feel as if this is something that all of us struggling to get through the darker months can keep in the back of our minds.
So how to? Realize that the coffee still brews, those raindrops still hit your skin before they hit the pavement, that bed is still warm enough to cuddle up in, your favorite pair of jeans still fit great, those lights still twinkle at night, that throwback song is still a jam, you can still bake whatever you want & eat the whole thing, the snow still falls, & the hands of those who love you most still get held. The sun doesn't stop rising because you don't want to get up & watch it. Find those little things & make them worthwhile. They're there, I promise you.
