The other day my teacher asked why I seemed so down, and I told her the grey skies was deflating my mood.
Waking up to the dark and the cold, and going to sleep in the same weather, was getting to me.
She commented on how her young son does not seem to be negatively affected by the shift in weather, because he takes advantage of any seasonal transition.
He is excited to kick the leaves or jump in the puddles, the grey skies are nothing more than a backdrop.
It made me wonder, is there any way for us to grow up and retain this excitement?
Was this childlike joy the way to combat seasonal depression?
It can be hard to be stuck in the same office or classroom all day, which makes it tricky to find the opportunity to ‘kick the leaves,’ so what are the ways that we can incorporate some of these nostalgic joys in our daily lives?
Perhaps it helps to explain the obsession with all things pumpkin flavoured at this time of year.
The scarcity of these products, only available when the leaves fall, helps people to get excited for something otherwise absent.
So, go put on your wellies!
Go jump in that puddle.
Carve that pumpkin.
Collect the conkers that fall from the trees.
Light the spice scented candle.
I would highly recommend going on a stroll in Hyde Park or Richmond Park to witness the spectacle that is the autumn deer rut, where the testosterone runs rampant in the stags and the locking of antlers is not uncommon.
Seasonal depression is not something to be dismissed, especially considering the severe toll it takes on mental health.
But perhaps the small things can start to help.
