It is officially Spring for those of us who experience the four seasons. Yet, I look out my window and everything still looks dead. It's a gloomy, overcast day with little or no sunshine at the moment.
I know for myself at least, that the seasons changing and the weather warming up greatly affects my overall mood and illness. For example, when the sun is out and the temperature in the mid-seventies, I feel wonderful, opposed to this days of gloom and cold that are still lingering.
However, I take hope in knowing these winter months are about behind us, and that soon the trees will be blooming again as they come back to life as so many things do. Spring is a time of beauty and regeneration so to speak. Those of us who suffer with depression in the winter months know this to be true. We are entering a new season, and I think like the trees and all living things; we too can make a comeback no matter what has set us back in the past. I really believe the seasonal changes weigh heavier on us with mental illness than on those who don't, because we feel it more and it can be more intense. However, I also believe we can recover from it.
I have this hope that Spring is around the corner and I believe it will get here. In the same way I hope and believe that I'm getting better one day at a time. I'm done looking back on previous seasons, seasons of pain and anguish; I'm looking ahead and perceiving a new thing in my life. I'm choosing to believe that with this new season comes new opportunities, opportunities that are beautiful and life-giving like Spring. What are you focusing on as a new season begins? What good things do you imagine and hope for