In my old life, I would scurry away at 5 PM after a long day’s work racing towards my yoga studio to fill the loneliness and depression of winter days with movement, breath work, and community building activities in the yoga studio. I found myself yearning to take a trip to a warm destination such as Hawaii, South Carolina or the Caribbean so as to replenish the vitamin D supplies that are lost in the darkness of winter. Now that I’m a quadriplegic, rushing off to the yoga studio or jumping on an airplane to head to a tropical destination is not as likely these days. But just because my arms and legs don’t work anymore, doesn’t mean that I can’t find alternative strategies to lift the gloominess. Here are just a couple things I have found successful in my own life, I hope that you can adapt your own strategies and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel… Which actually is the sunlight coming soon for us in the summer months. And longer days. And green grass. And sunshine on my face. The list goes on…
Meditate and breathe. Quieting the mind and dropping into a still place will calm the heart and soul – it literally scrubs out dark and depressing thoughts. There is such healing in finding the still point, finding peace. Even if closing the eyes for a mere one to two minutes, and taking three slow, deep breaths will do wonders for the soul. While breathing, it is important to imagine a gold ball vibrantly illuminating the inside of your heart moving up and down your chakra centers with the movement of your breath.
Listen to music. All kinds of music. I have an Amazon Alexa in almost every room of my home and therefore I find no excuse to not always have whatever music suits my mood at the moment to be playing in the background. Music is chicken soup for the soul; it feels you up and uplifts the mood especially if you are singing out loud. Just like that old bumper sticker says, sing like no one’s listening.
Get out of the house, even if it means a quick trip to the grocery store. Being locked in can be soothing and calming during cold winter months, although too much time inside can be very depressing and isolating. just the act of going to and from a shop, grocery store, church, even to Starbucks to get a coffee, will elevate the mood especially since interaction with others is uplifting. So throw your hat and mittens on and roll out!
Build a small altar in your home, in a quiet space where you can breathe and meditate. Collect knickknacks, cards, jewelry, whatever entices your senses and place on the altar. I have an altar in my bedroom and in dark moments, I roll in front of it and look at all my little treasures that remind me of good times past and provide introspection for future.
Burn incense, sage or Palo Santo in your home especially focusing on clearing the dark corners of bedrooms, closets, and bathrooms where dark spirits tend to hang out. In ancient tradition amongst many different cultures, the burning of such sacred plants and wood stabilizes the mood, elevates the soul and heart space and provides grounding. The smell alone of these delectable items will elevate anyone’s mood!
