Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekgen!tekcae!moiram
From: moiram@tekcae.CAX.TEK.COM (Moira Mallison)
Newsgroups: alt.recovery
Subject: Re: Those winter blues
Message-ID: <5357@tekgen.BV.TEK.COM>
Date: 17 Jan 90 19:50:13 GMT
References: <1990Jan16.154431.8304@hriso.ATT.COM>
Sender: nobody@tekgen.BV.TEK.COM
Reply-To: moiram@tekcae.CAX.TEK.COM (Moira Mallison)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.
Lines: 35


I notice it earlier in the season:  around Thanksgiving.  Makes it hard
for me to keep the energy going through finals week, the second week
of December. 

Last year I *was* sliding into a major depressive episode and was in denial
around that until I hit bottom.  It took me 4 - 5 months to climb out of it.
This year I was committed to being aware of any hints of a relapse so I
could catch it earlier.   Instead of making an effort to be more active
when I was feeling lethargic, I honored the hibernative tendencies.  I
carefully chose activities which were nurturing for me.  In the past,
I have spent a lot of time and effort making special Christmas presents.
This year I purchased them all (with a list and a budget! another win!)
in probably record minimal time.  I took vacation time before Christmas
so I could do what I wanted to do and not be rushed about it.   I spent
as much alone time as i could squeeze out.  I was committed to a stress-free
holiday season, and I was fairly successful.  I created a balance between
being a "slug" and accomplishing what was most important to accomplish.

In the Celtic tradition, the period between winter solstice and candlemas
(February 1) is the time of the seed germinating in the earth, and
analagously, a time of focus on inner contemplation.  I have been
doing a lot of journal writing about "what is it I *really* want?",
"what am I doing?", "is it working?", "what else am I willing to do?",
"how will I know if that works?", etc.   As I honor what it is I am
hungry for  (a lot more rest and relaxation, lately), I am less likely
to try to satisfy the hunger with food.  

Candlemas is the time we begin to bring the focus from inner contemplation
to outer manifestation in the world.  I honor my body's seasonal cycles
which are so deeply engrained in my Spirit.

namaste,

Moira