I was recently in California and was taken to wine country. From Ohio – where temperatures were in the teens and ice had sheathed the city of Cleveland – to this, a place of light, color, warmth, and flowing petals in the wind, I don’t know if I had smelled cleaner or sweeter air. And the color! The blue of the sky, the green of the grass, it took me to a calmer place. Cleveland was battling more than just an embarrassing NBA losing streak, I could not remember the last time the sky was not overcast with heavy clouds.
Mental health is a topic that so many of us do not address. It’s one of those topics that carries even more taboo than sexuality. When you’re the one that brings it up, people assume you struggle and no one wants to think their moods, or feelings, or mind struggles with balance.
It’s a ridiculous assumption and expectation; to believe or make-believe that we are 100% in balance all the time. We’re all plotted on the spectrum of mental health. Depending on the conditions of our geography, stress, job, family, and relationships, our wellness fluctuates. And that’s normal. It’s more abnormal, I think, to say that you are unaffected by life, seasons, and sun exposure.
It’s critical to take care of our minds and spirits. It’s critical not only for ourselves, but for those we live with. Just ask Nick.
When I came home from California, I picked Nick up from classes. I hadn’t seen him since I got home the previous night because our schedules didn’t match up. When he got into the car, he saw me and his eyes grew as round as saucers as he exclaimed, “Wow!”
I smiled, “Missed me, huh?”
He stuttered, “Yeah, of course, but, not just that – YOU’RE GLOWING!”
I flipped down the visor and examined my face in the mirror, “I am?”
Nick took my hand, “Yes, you look so alive!”
If and when you can find it, find the sunshine to get you through the winter. Get some sunshine, walk, breathe.
Never underestimate the power of a brief but timely vacation and the benefits of natural sunshine on your skin. And write this on an index card and post it on your mirror, “If winter is here, can spring be far behind?”