❤️

Sammer jammer is feeling better

Sam was not feeling great so we had our amazing vet, Holly, come give him an exam a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately, he contracted a worm that attacks the spinal cord.  She treated him in the hopes we caught it early enough and he seems to be doing much better after his follow up today!  Him and his brothers are getting very fuzzy also preparing for winter.  Stay tuned for more winter wonderland from the Land of Misfit Toys.

Okay, SAD people. It's November 1st, the clocks changed last night, and I would like to call an emergency meeting.

 

We have seven weeks until December 21st, the winter solstice, when the days FINALLY start getting longer again.

 

Seven weeks.

 

We can do this.

 

Now, before anyone comes at me with, “Have you tried enjoying winter?” or tells me how beautiful the snow is, how much they love the cold, or how I should just embrace the season, back up.

 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is not the same thing as disliking winter.

 

I can appreciate a beautiful snowfall, love a cozy fireplace, and enjoy walking around Storybook Hill in my winter boots petting alpacas and throwing snowballs while simultaneously feeling like someone unplugged my brain.

 

Both things can be true at once.

 

And I am not interested in spending another winter trying to convince myself, or anyone else, that I should feel differently.

 

I'm interested in making a plan.

 

So, fellow SAD sufferers, it's time to take inventory.

 

→ Vitamin D situation? Discussed with appropriate professionals.

→ Happy lights? Multiples. Within arm's reach.

→ Office furniture? Rearranged to face whatever sunlight Wisconsin is willing to provide.

→ Fireplace remotes? In our pockets.

→ Instagram feeds? Cleansed of anyone making us feel inadequate, pissed or joyless.

→ Hats and mittens? Ready for mandatory fresh-air breaks.  And if you have little kids, get these stupid things out NOW.  You'll thank me on the first cold day.

→ Bath bombs and shower steamers? Stockpiled.

→ Crockpots? Reporting for duty.

→ Libby holds? Frankly, getting out of hand.

 

We are not going quietly into the darkness.

 

And here's something I've been thinking about since last week's letter about confidence and paying attention to my energy.

 

 

What if I stop expecting myself to have the same energy, enthusiasm, and capacity in November that I have in June?

 

What if I work with the season instead of treating it like a personal challenge I need to overcome?

 

That doesn't mean giving up. It doesn't mean SAD is something I can fix with a blanket and a pot of soup, either.

 

It means taking care of myself on purpose.

 

Making the house cozy. Getting outside when I can. Protecting my attention. Making plans with people I love, when I want.  Staying home when I don't want. 

 

Getting appropriate help when I need it.

 

I wrote a whole Seasonal Affective Disorder Survival Guide this week, complete with my slightly dramatic winter preparedness plan and a collection of things that make the darker months a little more bearable.

 

Because if we're going to do this, we might as well be organized.

 

And listen, December 21st isn't going to magically cure anything. We still have a whole Wisconsin winter ahead of us.

 

But it's the turning point.

 

The light starts coming back.

 

And sometimes I just need to know there's a turning point.

 

UP ON (AND OFF) THE HILL

1. Madeline and I took the train to Minneapolis/St. Paul to visit my godmother, Mimi (pic in the Columbus, WI Amtrak station). If you don't already know how obnoxious I am about Amtrak, follow me on Instagram. You'll get a front-row seat to my completely unreasonable enthusiasm for train travel. I love it. I will not shut up about it. And I make no apologies.

 

2. Speaking of Mimi, my godmother has been my absolute rock my entire life. She also has THE BEST STYLE and an uncanny ability to find the cutest little things. Gifts aren't necessarily my love language, but this adorable little reading ghost made me feel so loved and seen. It's such a small thing to know someone so well. And such a big thing to be known.  Here's the Amazon link if you're in love with him too.

 

3. We said goodbye to the Creekside Scoop mural this week. And before anyone comes at me, I KNOW. It's a beautiful piece of art by Michelle Moran (find her on Instagram), and painting over it was not an easy decision. But businesses change, seasons end, and sometimes making room for something new means letting go of something you once loved. That blank wall is the beginning of a new chapter, both for me and another small business owner. A little bittersweet, but mostly exciting. There's something pretty wonderful about making space for someone else's dream.

If you’re new here, hi 👋🏻 This is Love Monday. A weekly note about life, home, becoming, unbecoming, and whatever I’m currently figuring out in real time. No perfect formulas, just honest ones. Forward to a friend and they can subscribe here.