Miscellaneous Forum

of course if you feel it.

Oh my. What a question. :-) I used to live in the midwest where we had cold temperatures, snow, and ice. Even ice storms which brought down entire trees.
Hated it. Did not like driving in those conditions because even though I am careful, I never knew about the other drivers. NOW I live in sunny Florida, where we have sunshine practically all year. Our temps seldom fall below the 50's (14C) at night. Last week in January it was 85 (30C) degrees. Do I love it? YES!!! I did not like winter. I also love daylight saving time, which begins again March 11. Go Sunshine!! I guess if you live where it is cold, try to do fun things with friends like fireside gatherings, roast marshmellows, ice skate, sleigh rides, etc.

Keeping busy, getting out and about as much as possible, keeping in touch with friends and planning trips.

We're having a very dreary grey winter here , I thought January would never end. But now we're into February and winter's end is in sight. It is difficult to keep your mood up during long spells of bad weather.

I'm one of those that actually likes the winter, as long as we get proper winter weather. Bring on the cold and the snow, we could have a blizzard every week December through February and I'd be happy. It's the stuff we're getting this year that depresses me, 40° F and rain. Days like that I tend to catch up on my sleep and my reading, as well as my cooking, so I guess that's how I deal with it.

Knowing Spring will soon be here! February always seems to be the worst month as you are past the holidays and you've had enough of now leaves on the trees and everything a different shade of brown.

But would I move from the midwest to Florida like SONG? Sorry, Kathy but I really don't like not having changes in seasons and days warmer then 80 degrees.

:)
I'm very busy at work, I go to the gym, I meet my friends quite often :)
Too bad, it doesn't really help. Perhaps I'm just too season-dependent, if can say so. I can easily stand the heat, I love it (others suffer and strangle, and I enjoy it risking of being beat by others if they know it :) ) but winter is just killing me
I have headache and vertige often, my fingers bleed, I sometimes can't breath.

There are some rumours about starting the new Ice period in the air... looks more true than those about 'global warming', which I don't see a single bit

LOL Rich. To each his own. Now there are more than black model T's. lol
Yes I do know that some people do not like the heat. It does not bother me much. However, I do NOT like New Mexico or Arizona. Hot, dry and in my humble opinion ....imho.....I do not like the dessert landscape. Give me those swaying palm trees and breeze any day. Also, remember the BEACH comes along with the Florida lifestyle and nothing is better for me. Yep,,,,I like Chicago. It is one of my favorite big towns. But the bbbbbrrrrrr weather in winter is not for me. Now that I live in Florida, I don't know how I did it before. aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

I'm dreaming about small house in Chile. Southern semisphere, lovely country and delicious wine...
Though it seems I'd have to learn how to cope with earthquakes, lol

I know how you feel Inga...I would love to move to permasun anyday

I always go somewhere sunny in November. I went to Mexico this year, which was great. Lots of walking in January and February even if I have to force myself out the door in bad weather. Walking keeps those endorphins in circulation. Usually have a trip booked for March or April so there is something to look forward to. New York coming up in March and Indonesia in April. This is all keeping me very happy despite the fact that it is really miserable out there today!

I don't mind the weather or the cold. It's the greyness..simply the lack of sunshine...which pushes me down.

Apart from at weekends, I'm indoors during all daylight hours when the days are short. That doesn't help.

I don't know how I cope. Nothing specific, except sleeping a lot and knowing that things are gradually improving. This too will pass...

I always feel better when Christmas is over. It feels as if we are going uphill rather than downhill.

I LOVE the high deserts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. High desert is very different than low, flat stuff (which also has a certain kind of beauty) and has such amazing landscapes. Hot in summer? Not necessarily: Santa Fe and some other locations can be fairly moderate due to their altitude. It's humidity that kills me: was in Miami once in July and it was too brutal to be outside after 9:00 AM. Nope, give me dry any day.

But to answer your question, Inga, I get through the winter by doing indoor things I enjoy. Right now, I'm writing from beside the fireplace in my favorite coffeeshop: a cozy thing I can't enjoy in warmer months. I watch more movies, read more books, do more baking, visit local museums and whatnot, plan trips... Saving up some of these activities for winter gives me something to look forward to - although I'm MORE than ready to give them up on that first day of spring! Yes, I battled the blues a good share of last winter and had to really work at staying busy.

I agreee with the sunshine. Cold, warm, damp...no matter what. Just give me sunshine. Even a very cold day is not so bad if you have sunshine.

It's the lack of sunshine (or simply lack of natural daylight) which is known to cause SAD.

In the UK we have many, many grey days all through the year. Some summers have barely any sunny days. That does make winter much harder.

I have a sunbed!

I don't have a sunbed. I've seen special lamps, but have not yet felt low enough to bother shelling out for one. Stiff upper lip, grin and bear it etc etc....

I would never pay for one and limit it to strictly 10 minutes at a time due to the electricity costs...I became the owner of this sunbed after helping someone move it out of a flat 3 floors up and then try to get it into another flat 6 floors up...it would not go..not no-how ...so she advertised it on the internet while it waited in my hallway for someone to buy it...its so old and outdated that not one person made an offer on it...so I shifted it upstairs and there it still is..still working almost 6 years later

All this discussion today and sun has come out in its full glory in Chicagoland today. Must be all the positive vibes from this forum.

I try to think about summer- now it's only 115 days til I start my summer holidays. My mother keeps talking about the summer cottage and I know she'd like my company there - I don't mind it,either. Those weekends start in April,hopefully.
It's also true that my brother's dog has helpåed me through this winter.Playing with her is great fun.
I have my long weekend booked for Copenhagen and a short while ago I managed to find a webcam on a central square.The morning footage showed really very little snow and I'm very happy about that.I hate ice more than snow but now I feel I will be walking around in Copenhagen.
Sunshine is a bonus.
-Soili-

Oh boy, how I hate the dreary Irish weather. January or June, doesn't seem to make a lot of difference!!!
I spend so long attached to this laptop, taveling virtually, to where the sun shines, watching programs like "A place in the sun", and sourcing cheap-ish flights and accommodation for my next escape. :-)

Canary Islands again for February...our wedding anniversary (excuse).
A different Island for May...(just because).

I am trying to justify a return to Turkey at some stage...because I found that place very special and I need to be on my own sometimes.

Vitamin D supplements and a simulated sunlight bulb in my reading lamp.

I try to keep busy in my non-working hours, doing things I like: reading, cooking, watching movies, having a meal with friends. Like John, I also find that taking a daily walk is good. Keeping in touch with people on VT and Facebook also helps.

It's tough, though. Even though I'm aware that my depression is only seasonal and will go away when the days get longer and sunnier, there are times when I have to make a conscious effort to push it away.

Well iI rally do have the winter blahs always did
Without sunshine I am not as chipper as I am with sunshine

So Lori & I are fortunate to be able toseek the sune and that is what we do as
much as poissible .
We take a trip to a warm place late november and we go to southern Spain in Feb and that does help
No guarentees for sunshine but a better change .

Hansi

I take vitamin D and fish oil (luckily they sell it in pills now as it's abbolutely impossible to drink). But it can't fully beat the depression :( or upset state, if can say so

Sunshine is not enough for me, I really need a warm or hot weather. Thinking of going somewhere in March or April, hopefully will be able to do it

Today is turning out to be a beauty
The wind is gone and we are very Happy about it
I hope it stays like this or even gets better

Hansi

yell at husband, makes me feel so much better. lol

:)))))
it's sunny today here

Keti, what's the temperature in Finland?

around -13c..sunny and clear skies..unfortunately not cold enough to freeze my husbands finnish balls a little bit..as you can see, im rather angry at him today. lol

unfortunately not cold enough to freeze my husbands finnish balls a little bit..

:-0

btw, inga, as for depression..no time..ilmi doesnt give me a moment to think about depression. lol
when ever he sees me sitting down and serious, he comes over and starts pulling and hugging me. :=) my little cute natural anti depression medicine. :=))

I look longly at that picture I took of that sunset in Maui I really liked that I have as my computer screen pic and imagine myself still standing there with my feet in the water and that margarita at my hand.

Bright sunny blue ski in Chicago today. I'm feeling full of pep and energy today.