Lights!
These short, dark days are already trying me, and they will only get shorter and darker progressively until the Winter Solstice on December 22nd – the shortest day, or longest night.
Why do They keep f'kin’ with the time? My time! I’m turning on the lights one hour, fourteen minutes earlier than I did last week. Lights cost by the kilowatt-per-hour rate you pay, but the rewards are great and they are many.
For the sum of a cheap TV dinner, I can buy a 25-pack scented tealights. Little spots of light and warmth everywhere (what is it about fire and our basic instinct to gather ‘round and draw close to the flames? So tri-bal, dahling!). For two bags of greasy, salty chips I can spring for the three-wicked scented job for the powder room (who are we kidding? there’s no bath in there!).
Shiner doing with one less chicken buys a long-barreled Bic firestarter so I don’t burn myself. Equilibrium of any sort is a challenge these days….digitally or otherwise.
There is something about many points of light which instills feelings of hope and well-being and beats back the darkness. We are all creatures of Love and Light and it is not our Natural Nature to be dark and frail and uncertain. It is only the chemicals talking trash in our minds. They are not us.
Are you listening?
Light a candle. Lights are not a luxury. Running the bathroom heater to warm the throne for such momentary comfort is a luxury. Lights are essential to more balanced moods, sleep and behavior. We sleep better when we feel safe and calm. We perceive, behave and interact better when we are rested. We enjoy better health when the amount and quality of our sleep improves.
Add even moderate exercise and you have the one-two punch combo for leveling the Bipolar battlefield. Exercise lubes our joints and our minds and eases our aches and pains. It gives us strength and confidence. Sleep and exercise are your weapons, people! You face a formidable opponent; respect the stealth and brilliance of your disorder. Don’t play possum. Act!
There are small things you can do right now to improve your overall quality of Being.
Light a candle.
(I really do hate it when they mess with the time.)
somaphx
