I love to follow social media accounts run by people who live in very different natural environments from my own. One of my favorite accounts is run by a woman who lives in northern Alaska, and her latest post was about how to survive the dark Alaskan winters without becoming debilitatingly depressed. Her advice included getting outside even when it’s dark, having s’mores nights around a campfire and decorating strollers, backpacks and wagons with LED lights and glow sticks. Her advice made me think of Christmas lights — a more common way in the lower 48 to combat the darkness of winter.
Even for those of us who love the holidays and all the joy this time of year can bring, the winter can be rough emotionally. Lack of sunlight, a disruption in routine, and low temperatures can really make a person’s mental health decline, not to mention the family dramas that can erupt and old traumas that can resurface more during the holidays than any other time.
Seasonal depression is a real factor in my life, as it is for around 5% of U.S. adults. I have my methods of combating it, but my main focus this season has been acceptance and gratitude. I’ve been asking myself, “what if I let myself ebb and flow, like many things in nature? What if I don’t have to be consistently productive and always at my best? What happens if I allow myself my own kind of hibernation, and focus more on who I am, than who I want to become?”
I am trying to practice giving myself grace and leaning into the things that bring me comfort and joy without putting pressure on myself to do things I might feel obligated to do. We’re not finishing any new year’s resolutions in December, I’ll tell you that. But as I look for ways to bring soft light into my darkness, I only have to turn to our most ubiquitous decoration for inspiration. Not only do I see the lights on the tree in my very own living room, but I am able to appreciate the light in the people I am around.
As a social work graduate student, I am lucky enough to be around a lot of people who add their own light to the darkness around them. When they walk into the room, the energy shifts because you know their positive attitude, full of gratitude and kindness, is coming with them. I’m trying to follow their example and be more of a light myself. While I’ve never been able to stay very consistent keeping a gratitude journal, I’ve found that texting people the things I’m grateful for about them is just as fulfilling, if not more so. A simple, “thanks for chatting after class! I always look forward to seeing you,” makes them feel good, but it also keeps my brain focused on the good things in life because I’m looking for things to thank them for.
December 21st is the winter solstice, marking the true beginning of the winter season. Instead of looking at it as the shortest day of the year, as some people do, I have been thinking of it as the longest night of the year. It’s a slight change in framing, but as someone who has always loved the stars, nighttime feels very comforting to me. Even though I am doing my best to combat the seasonal blues like many of us, I am still eagerly anticipating the night when I get to see the most stars and am reminded of just how small I, and my problems, are in comparison to the universe.
All over the world, in places where people celebrate a holiday season, you will find lights as decoration. Even miles apart, we are all still looking for ways to bring light to the darkness around us.
I think there is a lot of comfort to be found in darkness, because that’s when you can look for the lights. This winter season, I encourage you to look for the lights in your life, and when you can, add your own.
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