Tag Archives: Winter

Okay, Who Decided to Send Me Snow for My Birthday

Posted on by Gertie

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Good Evening, World!!! The above picture is what it looked like a good portion of the day. It snowed today, my 40th birthday. I have experienced snow before but never on my birthday. I have considered myself as a “spring baby” but every once in a while Mother Nature reminds me that I am technically a “winter baby.” When Mother Nature reminds me that I am a “winter baby” it usually is a wind storm with lots of rain and a few down trees and the occasional power outage but never snow.  In fact, I am still trying to figure out who sent me the snow for my birthday because, I sure in the hell didn’t want the white stuff for my birthday. I am not a big fan of snow.

Besides dealing with the snow for my birthday, I attended Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group as it started today. In my opinion I think getting back into DBT Group and it starting today was the best birthday present I could give myself. I say it is the be present I could give myself because it is something that will help me throughout the years to come just like it has helped me the last fifteen plus years.

Another thing I am doing for my birthday is that a couple of neighbors are making a birthday dinner for me. In fact dinner is at 7:30 this evening and it is just after seven o’clock in the evening in my part of the world. I am looking forward to dinner with friends. I am happy that people are willing to celebrate my birthday with me.

I do not have much more to say in this post. I want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things. I hope you all have a good rest of your Thursday. Peace Out, World!!!

Another Brief Check In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I had a nice time at a Yule celebration with some friends. We started out our celebration by going to Red Robin to eat. We then went to a friends house where we exchanged gifts and played some games. I love Yule celebrations because it is a celebration where I am not judged like I am at Christmas celebrations.

Before attending the Yule celebration with friends my therapist called me to check in with me to make sure I have a good self care plan in place for the next four days. He will be out of the office on Christmas Eve and well the office is closed on Christmas. I informed him of what my self care plan was he thought it was a “great plan.” I am beyond grateful that I have a therapist that cares about me and check up on me when needed.

As many of you know today is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere which means it is the shortest day of the year. As much as I dislike the shorter days at least I know starting tomorrow (Saturday the 22nd) the days will slowly start getting longer.

I don’t have much to say. I just want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated especially this time of year. I hope to blog some time tomorrow. Again, thank you for reading my blog. Have a great evening everyone. Happy Solstice and Yule. Peace Out, World!!!

Just Check In Post

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! As many of you know is that today is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This means it is the shortest day of the year which is never a good thing for me when it comes to the symptoms of my mental health challenges especially the depression. Despite it being a not so good day for the symptoms of my mental health challenges, I have created ways to make it a good day.

First and fore most, I am looking forward to spending the first day of Yule with my friends this evening. I love spending time with friends anytime of the year especially when it comes to celebrating them or their beliefs. I do have to mention that I am having anxiety over this get together and I am unsure why. I have done this get together with these friends for several years now. Granted, I may have anxiety over this get together for some unknown reason but I am really looking forward to spending the first day of Yule with my friends.

It appears that life is throwing me a wrench at the moment with increased anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms. Symptoms that come when it is the most inconvenient of times but then again there is no convenient time for symptoms to surface. I did email my therapist about the increase of symptoms and that I am not in need of a check in at the moment. I emailed him just to make him aware of what was going on so if I need a check in, he is not surprised.

Before I end this post, I want to remind you my reader about the ads on my blog. I have ads on my blog to earn extra money. The only way I make the money is if you my reader click on to the ads. I am hoping that you my reader can click on the ads so I can earn a few extra cents to dollars. I am hoping that enough people click on the ads so I can get paid the money. The only way they pay out the money is if you reach one hundred dollars and if you don’t reach out one hundred dollars the money just sits there until you collect enough money that reaches one hundred dollars. I hope that you all can do me this favor. I need about twenty dollars to reach one hundred dollars to collect it. So I beg you to click on the ads so I can reach the one hundred dollars.

Thank you for reading my blog and I apologize for begging you to click on the ads. Once I reach one hundred dollars is the moments I turn off the ads on my blog. Again thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated. I hope everyone has a great Friday and awesome Winter Solstice. Blessed Yule to everyone who celebrates Yule. I hope everyone also has an awesome weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

Blessed Solstice

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I still have not slept and am a little annoyed with the fact that I did not sleep a wink last night. Despite not being able to sleep I am really grateful for what I have. I am grateful for the celebration I will be doing this evening with friends.

I celebrate Yule or Winter Solstice with my Pagan friends. Yule last from December 21st to January 1st and we usually get together on the first of Yule which is December 21st to celebrate with each other. That way we can celebrate Yule and other holidays that may be at the same time Yule with family. Other such holidays include Christmas, Kwanza and sometimes Hanukkah. My friends and I celebrate Yule by eating dinner together as well exchange gifts. It is a great time had by all. I am glad that I do this every year with my Pagan friends even though I am not Pagan. I attempt to celebrate everyone’s holiday and be as diverse as possible. I even celebrate Kwanza with my friends who are people of color even though I am a not a person of color. My friends of color who celebrate Kwanza always ask me to attend their celebrations and I accept a good portion of time. I guess what I am saying is that I celebrate everyone this time of year and all year long.

As I end this post I hope to post later on today. I hope everyone has a great Yule as well as great Friday. Blessed Solstice everyone. Peace Out, World!!!

Educational Piece: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Posted on by Gertie

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.

Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), medications and psychotherapy.

Don’t brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the “winter blues” or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.

In most cases, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. Less commonly, people with the opposite pattern have symptoms that begin in spring or summer. In either case, symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.

Signs and symptoms of SAD may include:

  • Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
  • Having low energy
  • Having problems with sleeping
  • Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
  • Feeling sluggish or agitated
  • Having difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
  • Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

Fall and winter SAD

Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, sometimes called winter depression, may include:

  • Oversleeping
  • Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
  • Weight gain
  • Tiredness or low energy

Spring and summer SAD

Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include:

  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Poor appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Agitation or anxiety

 

Everyday Inspiration; Day 11: A Cup of Coffee

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, Word!!! If we were having coffee right now, I sure in the hell wouldn’t be drinking coffee as I highly dislike the taste of coffee. I love the smell of coffee, I just don’t like the taste.

You would think living in Seattle with multiple coffee shops on each block you would think I would be a coffee fan by now but that is not the case. I, however love my fair share of hot chocolate and hot tea. Depending on the season of the year is what I tend to order if I go to a coffee shop. I prefer ma and pop coffee shops over famous shops.

For instance, during the autumn (fall) months I love getting the London Fog. I find it highly soothing and comforting. I also find hot chocolate comforting. I do find myself ordering peppermint hot chocolate when the holidays are upon us. I am by no means attempting to rush the holidays to get here any quicker than they are already.

Life passes us by so quickly which it why I think we need to take a “coffee break” and enjoy each other company even if coffee isn’t are desired drink of choice. I know I make an effort to have a “coffee date” with a handful of friends on the weekly basis so we can support each other as well update each other on how our lives are going. Yes, the majority of my friends order coffee when I usually order a London Fog, Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Hot Chocolate but that is okay as long I am able to spend time with those who care about me.

Thank you again for reading and I hope to be able continue blog with Finding Your Everyday Inspiration course that WordPress puts on. Thanks for being an active part of my blog. You all are awesome. I hope everyone has and awesome Sunday. Enjoy the simple things life has to offer you like, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Peace Out, World!!!