Here it is, the cold wet weather is upon us. The darkness has arrived and the energy of the nation has plummeted. Communication between families is now monosyllabic and reduced to minimum interaction, everyone is in a bad mood.
But only if that’s how you think! I, on the other hand, enjoy the seasonal changes as it brings contrast to our world. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sun and would prefer that rather than a rainy day, but nature has to balance itself out. We need rain, the wind needs to blow the leaves far and wide and some things need to hibernate or slow down to regenerate.
It’s a reflection of life and also being a human. There are times when we need maximum energy to get things done. We need our ‘sunny days’ to produce a high work rate and achieve things but we also need to regenerate and build our energy stores back up. We need our rainy days just as much.
Everything works in beats, pulses, highs and lows. The world, and life, is a rollercoaster ride to be enjoyed and maximised.
How do you approach the Autumn and Winter? Is it a time of happy thoughts linked to activities such as holidays, skiing, celebration and time off, or is it associated with cold, blustery discomfort, dark mornings and even darker evenings?
The interesting thing is, we can’t control the weather so we have to look at doing what we can to create a a positive experience. Let’s be really honest though, this year is going to be different, we all know that. We are restricted, maybe even in lock down again, and our options are limited. The holidays may not happen, the family gatherings may not happen and, for some, spending more time at home is what we have been doing anyway – no change there. We are losing our contrast.
With this in mind, I am planning on having the best time I can possibly have. It’s not a time to be flippant, we have to follow the rules (even if the lines are blurred) to the best of our ability. Staying safe is a priority and CV-19 is real, even if it has not been close to you yet, it is real.
So some top tips for getting ready for our dark days:
- Stay connected and be mindful of people having a different experience than you.
- Be caring – look out for yourself and others.
- Be kind and love yourself – realise some things are out of your control.
- Expect the best but plan for the worst – have a plan!
- Reach out if you are feeling low – this time will pass, the same as day follows night.
- Maximise your highs, minimise your lows and share both experiences with others.
I trust that we will get over these challenges soon and life will return, but it will not be the same as it was. We need to rebuild businesses, the economy and lives again and if we look out for each other, it will be easier.
If this pandemic has taught us anything it is, that behind every suit, job title or position, uniform or FaceBook page, there is a real person. That person might save your life one day, or you could be their saviour, who knows?
Have a fantastic week – go dance in the rain!