"Thought For the Day"

[AluraMist]

"Spring will come and so will happiness.
Hold on. Life will get warmer."
~Anita Krizzan

[Pegasus Unbound]

Just a heads up about something we can all relate to:

March 18, 2023
National Awkward Moment Day

Hugs,

V

[AluraMist]

“Come Saturday Morning”
From the Golden Age of Music
Carefree days of laughter and simple times.
It is just so beautiful.

[AluraMist]

Getting a late start today, but "better late than never".

And "Spring is Coming!"

[AluraMist]

First Day of Spring, March 20, 2023 (Spring Equinox)

In 2023, the March Equinox happens on March 20, at 5:24 P.M. EDT. This falls on a Monday and is the astronomical beginning of the Spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring Equinox (also called the March Equinox or vernal equinox across the globe) occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south to north. It’s called the “celestial” equator because it’s an imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator. Imagine standing on the equator; the Sun would pass directly overhead on its way north.

Here’s an interesting fact: Equinoxes are the only two times each year that the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth!

In short, Spring Equinox marks the arrival of the Spring Season in the United States.

"Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is." ~Jessica Harrelson.

"I enjoy the Spring more than the Autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older." — Virginia Woolf.

[Arwen Mythweaver]

First Day of Spring, March 20, 2023 (Spring Equinox)

In 2023, the March Equinox happens on March 20, at 5:24 P.M. EDT. This falls on a Monday and is the astronomical beginning of the Spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring Equinox (also called the March Equinox or vernal equinox across the globe) occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south to north. It’s called the “celestial” equator because it’s an imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator. Imagine standing on the equator; the Sun would pass directly overhead on its way north.

Here’s an interesting fact: Equinoxes are the only two times each year that the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth!

In short, Spring Equinox marks the arrival of the Spring Season in the United States.

"Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is." ~Jessica Harrelson.

"I enjoy the Spring more than the Autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older." — Virginia Woolf.

Speaking as one who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is my favorite day of the year.
As soon as it gets cold and dark, I count the days until the Spring Equinox. Today is a glorious day!

[AluraMist]

Speaking as one who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is my favorite day of the year.
As soon as it gets cold and dark, I count the days until the Spring Equinox. Today is a glorious day!

Thank you for sharing with us. I had no idea what “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD) was, so I quickly did a search and found this:

It is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year.
Seasonal Affective Disorder occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year.
Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal.
Treatment includes light therapy (phototherapy), talk therapy, and medications.

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. These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months.

What are the signs and symptoms of SAD?
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day.
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.
- Experiencing changes in appetite or weight.
- Having problems with sleep.
- Feeling sluggish or agitated.
- Having low energy.
- Feeling hopeless or worthless.
- Having difficulty concentrating.

I learned something today. Hope it helps others too.

"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness,
the human soul is apt to revive also." ~Harriet Ann Jacobs

[Pegasus Unbound]

Thank you for sharing with us. I had no idea what “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD) was, so I quickly did a search and found this:

It is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year.
Seasonal Affective Disorder occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year.
Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal.
Treatment includes light therapy (phototherapy), talk therapy, and medications.

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. These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months.

What are the signs and symptoms of SAD?
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day.
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.
- Experiencing changes in appetite or weight.
- Having problems with sleep.
- Feeling sluggish or agitated.
- Having low energy.
- Feeling hopeless or worthless.
- Having difficulty concentrating.

I learned something today. Hope it helps others too.

"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness,
the human soul is apt to revive also." ~Harriet Ann Jacobs

Yes, this is very much a real thing. Most often it is referred to as the "Holiday Blues" but it is so very much more than the blues. Recently it was found that a vast majority of people suffer from this to one degree or another, and most do not even recognize it enough to do anything about it.

The most common version is related to our very memories and triggered by seasonal changes. Sad or bad things happen all the time, but they always seem magnified when they happen around a certain time of the year or event. If not dealt with early on, our subconscious tends to make us more "sensitive" when that event or time of year comes around again...and it can get stronger with each repeat of that event/time.

The "Holiday Blues" is most common as people are reminded of missing friends and family at a time when we are "supposed" to be surrounded by those very missing people.

Like @Marwen Mythweaver, I also fight the winter/holiday times; between the cold and dark, I also think of the many years of lost times over the holidays with my family as well as the passing of my parents during those same months. In my case, it begins in early November and continues through March. For many years, it was severely debilitating, but with a little help from friends and a good doctor I was able to come to terms with my sadness and loss. Yeah, I still get down, but it wont hold me back anymore.

I am so glad that you guys brought this up, because as I said, there are many who don't know they have this issue and just shrug it off instead of taking time to ask what and why and then find a way to leave it behind before it becomes a problem.

So let's welcome Spring by "weeding our gardens' and planting fresh, new and healthy "plants" to grow and nourish us mind/body/soul. There is an amazing and wonderful path just waiting for you to journey down...



Hugs,

V

[AluraMist]

Oh yes, I remember these. We still keep them in our freezer, especially during the summer months, and not just ‘for the kids’.

Here’s a question for you: “You are 12 years old, playing outside, and it is 100 degrees
Your Mom brings out a handful of these. Which one do you grab?”

[Jonathan Greenflame]

Orange, always orange.