Do you ever get the winter blues? There is a ton of stuff that needs to be done, but you don’t want to do any of it? Nothing sounds good to eat. Nothing looks good on you. Nothing good on TV. You just feel blah and out of sorts?

Me, too. I think this goes back to my childhood when I was a constant explorer, naughty pirate and rescuer of small animals. During the warm months, I was outside playing or inside reading. Always reading…in fact, I can’t remember a time in my life that I couldn’t read. My adventures in books always followed me to the playground, the farm and beyond.

So, it’s cold, windy and a “winter mix” is predicted…yuck. Snow is beautiful, but cold rain is just depressing. It is here that I find myself writing this week’s blog. However, not being one to give into Jack Frosts’ temper tantrums, I am looking around to see what I can do to boost my spirits…and here is what I find.

I want a cup of hot chocolate…with whipped cream. No, it’s not on my diet, but I’m not stirring in a spoonful of lard, only a dash of coconut creamer. Sometimes, you just need to treat yourself and I admit that I love Barbie-sized marshmallows. ..yum. My world now smells like Chocolate Aloha…and my mood is already more mellow and less bellow! (if you know what I mean)

I see a stack of classic movies…and the makings of a thick stew. Hummm. Yummy, EASY meal…and then a funny, silly flick with the hubby. That sounds cozy, not stuffy like after you’ve been cooped up in your house for months on end with no green grass, pretty flowers or birdie songs.

It’s 4:56 pm. I don’t think I’ll work late today. If all you do is work, then you are not honoring yourself or your family. But, don’t get me wrong, if there’s work to be done you can count on me…just not every day, all day. Bring a fresh you to the table and you get a delicious slice of ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm to your work…but, if you are a stale you each day, don’t expect more than moldy motivation, crusty creativity and old insight.

Roly Poly, my sweet puppy, just came over and reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for, starting with a delightful little bundle of fur that makes me laugh every day. The boys are at college, Kevin is visiting his mom in the hospital and I have been blessed with some quiet time to write. The phone is not ringing, my email inbox is empty, no voicemails, no critical reports or meetings…

Isn’t that funny? As soon as I start to look for the good, I see blessings of the very situation that was just causing me the blues. So, it really does start with a conscious decision to be positive and uplifting (to yourself and others)? And all this time I thought it was the mountain of Barbie-sized marshmallows in my hot chocolate.

Guess which one of these crazy kids is me? (Think Winter Blues...)