It’s October and we are solidly into Fall...my favorite!  I’m so thankful that I live in an area of the world where we experience all four seasons.  My husband was born in South America where it is hot all year round.  He moved to Pennsylvania at the age of ten, and then, thanks to me, stayed there until last year.  But he hates the cold.  He is in actual physical pain when it's too cold.  He retreats and is miserable.  So it has been a running joke in our household that at some point, we would move south to warmer temperatures.  And we have.   But thankfully, Richmond, Virginia isn’t too far south.  We get to experience the beauty of all four seasons without the drastic extremes of the northeast.  

I get energized by the cooler breezes.  Unlike my husband, I wilt in the heat. I don’t love the hot sun beating down on me.  I don’t relish the opportunity to show off more skin in lighter clothes.  I love being at the beach, but I would rather have a breezy, slightly overcast day in the 70s or 80s than a sunny hot day in the upper 90s.  Really, I’m blessed with an optimism that allows me to find something positive about all four seasons. But even though the cooler temperatures are my favorite, I still approach spring and summer with a positive attitude.  I love the emerging flowers blooming in the spring and the green leaves and grass. There are things I love about those seasons as well.  I can find the silver lining in most things. But there is really a special place in my heart for Fall.  

I was recently introduced to the concept of Hygge (pronounced HOO-gah).  It’s a Danish word meaning, in its simplest form, coziness. Think about cozy socks, a warm sweater, a steaming bowl of stew, a hot cup of tea, scented candles, a good book, a glass of wine…are you getting the picture? Creating sanctuary.

I fully embrace Hygge! I can’t wait to have a fire in my fireplace (even if it's just a gas fireplace switch) on a cool evening.  The changing colors of the leaves, school starting after summer break, the return of football season, getting to wear sweatshirts, sweaters and boots, decorating with pumpkins and mums, apples and autumn root vegetables, and of course, Thanksgiving Dinner!  When we lived in the northeast, I welcomed the occasional big snow storm that had us trapped inside for a while.  I took full advantage of the opportunity to make big pots of comfort food like Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie, Chili, or Chicken Noodle soup.  Hygge is all about comfort. It’s all about comfort food, comfortable clothes, and comfortable surroundings.

As with any new season, fall brings change.  There are many ways to approach change.  While I tend to view most change as being positive and an opportunity for growth, many are apprehensive.  Even a seemingly simple thing like the beginning of fall and cooler temperatures can be alternatively viewed as an ending (or death) of bright Summer sun, green leaves and vibrant flowers.  It can be seen, quite factually, as the gateway to bare trees, brown grass, less hours of sun, and frigid temperatures.   Some approach the impending winter, and the cold and darkness it brings, with apprehension.  This season is literally and figuratively dark for many people.  Having spent my career working in the field of mental health, I feel the need to mention that there are real effects on our mental well-being caused by the changes of seasons.  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is defined as a type of major depressive disorder that's related to changes in seasons, with symptoms usually beginning in the fall and extending into winter.  Its related to the decrease of sunlight, and the isolation some feel in the winter months due to harsh weather and less time spent outside can be debilitating.  Some symptoms can include oversleeping or difficulty waking, feeling of lethargy, and/or overeating.  

Help for SAD can come in the form of light therapy that mimics the natural outdoor light and can cause a change in the brain chemicals linked to mood.  Others find traditional talk therapy helpful or may be prescribed antidepressant medications.  In addition to seeking professional help, try adding exercise to your routine, eat healthy, drink lots of water, or if its not too cold, get outside in the brisk cool air.  If moving to a more temperate climate isn’t an option, you might also try incorporating more Hygge into your daily routine.