WINTER
Winter has begun in Pakistan. The chilly frosty mornings and the eerily early adhaans of isha salaah have begun taking their toll. I'm writing this entry at 6:30 PM but it feels like the middle of the night.
I forget the days when winters used to be fun, filled with snowmen and snow angels, fluffy winter jackets, wool mitts and scarves. I sometimes think as children we had 'positive goggles'. Wherever we'd go, what ever we'd see, we would be happy and content.
Nowadays, it has been scientifically proven, that the highest rate of depression induced suicides occurs in the winter seasons. It's easy to understand. By the time you rise up in the morning, the sun is still taking it's sweet time to make a full appearance. For students and office hour workers, often by the time you head home, the night has covered the sky.
I thought it would be nice to help list ways that you can fight the cold and the depression at the same time:
- Firstly, choose to wear warmer, brighter colors than you'd usually do. This helps remember happy times and can save you from the gloomy surroundings of winter jackets. A bonus is that not only will it help you, it will help others around you :)
- Try not to wake up earlier than you have to. Instead, do your important tasks like ironing your clothes, packing your lunch, homework or even walking your dog at night! Try to wake up in synchronization with the sun
- On your way to school or work, pay attention to the natural environment around you, it's all a miracle of creation and can help you in being thankful in being there to witness it with your own eyes
- When you're indoors, surround yourself with friends and co-workers, chit chat about upcoming holiday plans and help in organizing a holiday party! Looking forward to something helps pass the time
- Drink lots of warm beverages to keep yourself warm, also taking breaks for coffee can be refreshing, might get you a chance to see the sun for a while and interacting with the coffee-shop people can also help catch a few contagious smiles
- When you arrive home, try to relax. The night will unfold, no need to rush and do all your homework or chores right away. The sun might be gone but the TIME is still there!!
- The most important thing is to spend time with your family and with your friends. Sharing your thoughts and daily experiences, whilst listening to theirs can be motivating, refreshing and help to take your mind off sulky thoughts.
To help you get through the gray winter days,
