I’ve been suffering from a major case of the January doldrums. It’s cold, mornings are dark, and I’ve been finding it hard to motivate myself for even the most menial of tasks. But, in the past few days, I’ve perked up and found ways to cope on these dullest of winter days.
Firstly, after a long time, I found myself lost in a book. You know that euphoric feeling when, no matter what you’re doing, all you can think about is finding a spare moment to sink into a beautifully written story and dive into the characters’ lives. The book was Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls and I loved it. I just got my hands on her earlier memoir, The Glass Castle, and I can’t wait to start it. I’ve heard great things.
Last weekend, I was sitting grumpily on the sofa as my children bickered over their respective TV shows. The phone rang and my brother suggested we join him and his kids for some toboganning at a nearby park. I’m embarassed to say that I haven’t been toboganning since I was a kid, and I’ve actually never taken my kids. Terrible, I know.
It ending up being one of the best days I’ve had this winter, and my kids were giddy with joy, sliding down the hill blissfully and then climbing up again with excited anticipation. Watching their red, happy faces as they sipped hot chocolate, I vowed to embrace the snow and not let it get the best of me!
Therapy comes in many forms – for me, it’s doing those things that feed the soul – to name a few: Books, my family, exercise, good films (there’s a plethora of good ones out right now – so many to choose from, it’s actually overwhelming), fresh air, my children’s warmth and laughter, an inspiring chat with a friend, and a roaring fireplace on a cold, cold day.
So glad you found some excitement during the dreadful winter blahs. I definitely feel them, too, and need to get out of the funk!
Tobogganing is so much fun though, isn’t it? Love that you went out with your kids after all these years! So great!
Now I need to find myself a good book again…and the time to read it! 🙂
Amreen – I live in Perth, Australia on the west coast. Where it’s going to be 30C again today. So no Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder here LOL…just sun ALL the time. I’m still not used to it after 14 years!
I get this. Although it doesn’t happen in January for me (summer here) but when you’re stuck at home with the kids for 7 weeks over the holidays, your tolerance yardstick nosedives. I find that when it all gets too much, I take them to the local indoor pool for a few hours. The boys can cool off in the big diving pool while I take my daughter to the kiddie pool. I carry her on my back to do some pool “walking” for 10 or lengths, get some exercise and she loves it. We all feel great afterwards and the best thing about it? They’re EXHAUSTED and fall into bed. THEN I can dive into a great book LOL. FWIW – my kids would love to try toboganning some day (no snow here alas) and they’re fascinated with the whole concept. Amazing what we take for granted when we don’t know any different, isn’t it?
I’m not sure what my favourite season for reading is; curled up under some covers during the winter or lounging on the beach during the summer. I do know that I’ve been reading voraciously over the last couple of months, and since I LOVED The Glass Castle and Half-Broke Horses, you may be interested in what I’ve been reading. I plowed through The Hunger Games, barely able to put the “young adult” trilogy down. I really enjoyed The Irresistible Henry House, set in Mad Men-era 1950s, and with a lead character reminiscent of Don Draper. I immersed myself in the multi-generational story Cane River, about the strong black women who inhabited the Louisiana back country during the 19th and 20th century. Before the holidays I also read and loved Room, and The Art of Racing in the Rain, two books with surprising and wonderful narrative voices (one a five-year old boy, the other a dog looking back on his life).
Maybe winter is my favourite season for reading!
I hear you on all fronts, Amreen. I loathe the winter months so hard, it’s tragic. Really. It feels like the good weather won’t be here for about 5 months, and it makes me feel all bah-humbug.
I haven’t taken my kids tobogganing yet either. I haven’t been since I was a kid either. Terrible, yes, maybe… but I hate to be cold. HATE it. I prefer to “apres-ski” instead. Fireplace + wine = happy Winter-Tracey. I don’t even have snow-pants 🙁
You’re absolutely right though – some fun times outdoors can do wonders for the spirit… and the winter isn’t going anywhere, so one might as well make the best of things, right?
I’m thinkign books are still the better choice for me though. I LOVED The Glass Castle – can’t wait to read the one you just finished. And I have “Blink” and “The Tipping Point” on my bookshelf right now… so many books, so much winter…
so glad you are feeding your soul! I can’t survive without exactly that-it is funny that you and I are just thinking about the same thing today- i just wrote about Blue Monday-http://myfamilyisnotbroken.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/pink-mondays/
You are not alone with this winter struggle! tobogganing is the best! I have taken up snowshoeing and I love it.
My form of therapy comes in a mall, yikes!! Although a great book makes all the difference too!! oh,and lots of coffee…
Ooo, the Glass Castle is one of my favourite books of all time! I read it before I read Half Broke Horses and it gives so much insight to the characters. Hope you like it. Good for you for just getting out into the winter air and trying to embrace winter. It doesn’t come naturally to me either, but when I do force myself to get out there, I’m always glad I did.