Fall is my favorite season. The rains return (although they could have returned with less of a vengeance this year and I would have been ok with that), the leaves change and the weather cools down. The sweaters come back out and we add layers of blankets to the bed.
We are very stubborn about turning the heat on and tend to wait until our house gets really cold. In the interim, I love hanging out on the couch, snuggled under a blanket while knitting or reading. Plus, the cats tend to get very clingy as they try to stay warm. As I write this, Rosie and Dancer are both piled on top of David. He has his hands tucked between them to keep them warm.
Those aren’t the only reasons that I love Fall. I love the sense of new beginnings that September brings. Some of us have just completed the introspection that comes with the Jewish High Holidays and are ready to face life anew. I always associate Fall with a sense of great hope and opportunity for the year to come.
The only thing I don’t like about Fall is the fading light. I have no trouble adjusting to Spring when it starts being light in the early mornings and later into the evening. But, I dread losing the light in Fall. Every year I struggle with getting up when it is still dark outside. And my days just feel so much shorter when the sun sets earlier and earlier in the evenings.
Every year about this time my energy level takes a dip. I find myself feeling lethargic and sleepy all of the time. And every year it takes me a week or two to remember that I know how to bring my energy back up. The secret is using my SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lightbox. Sitting in front of it every morning makes a huge difference in my mood and energy. Without it, I basically become semi-functional.
It kind of blows my mind that something as simple as a bright light can make. How is it that 30 minutes of light can make me feel as energized as I do during the summer. Especially when I do it regularly. However, I do have some regular 7am meetings, and I tend to be less good about using my light on those days. And let me tell you, I can really feel the difference.