As I sit home-bound during the third significant snowstorm this winter, the stillness has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the gifts of the season. For many of us, the doldrums of winter are a trying time. Daylight is limited and we are generally less active. Our energy is lackluster and we very often experience the uncomfortable feelings that we avoid in our busyness. Animals cope with this season by hibernating, but the human animal resists the cyclical nature of life and growth. The medical profession even has a diagnosis for extreme symptoms, Seasonal Affective Disorder. We may try to overcome it but in the end, we cannot help but experience these ebbs and flows.
