It's that time of year - mid-February as I'm writing this - when seasonal hibernation lethargy has set in.
And this morning my social media popped up this meme:
Trust me, NOTHING could be further from the truth!
As the days get shorter with gloomy mornings and darker evenings, you might naturally feel yourself going into 'hibernation mode' ... when there's NOTHING left inside you with any force, and whatever force there might have once been wasn't fully adequate for the job back then either!
Where can you get actual help with your winter blues?
It may simply be that with the grey, chilly weather, you might not be feeling your best.
But the proper 'winter blues' is no a joke.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects around 2 million people in the UK. It leaves you feeling down, sad, or simply less energised than you normally are or would normally want to be.
It can be an illness and become serious, but many people are affected just a bit by the symptoms:
So, how can you get rid of that blah feeling and banish those winter blues?
This NHS Scotland website has lots of practical, common sense tips HERE.
But trying to sort yourself out on your own can feel like fighting your way out of a wet paper bag.
Let's face it ...
Hibernation mode clobbers lots of people
And it brings reminders of our human weakness, which had always been latent, bringing that up to the surface of our consciousness.
Fighting your way out of that wet paper bag
In Old Testament times, Isaiah's people seem to have had such frustrations about their own weakness, and there's a lot of ancient wisdom here from the old prophet.
There are times when we are confronted with the realities of life and are forced to realise that the 'force' isn't actually inside us.
And while there are practical things we can do, any properly adequate help must come from outside myself.
And here's where old Isaiah can help:
"Why do you say, Jacob,
Why do you say, Israel,“The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me;[
My God is not concerned with my vindication”?
Oh it can be easy to slip into thinking like that!
28 "Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is an eternal God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He does not get tired or weary;
there is no limit to his wisdom.
29 He gives strength to those who are tired;
to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy."
Do you feel like you could do with some of that?
30 "Even youths get tired and weary;
even strong young men clumsily stumble.
31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength;
they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings,
they run without growing weary,
they walk without getting tired."
Isaiah 40:27-31
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