It’s November! Many of us have planted fall flowers, eaten or donated our Halloween candy, and made the seasonal switch to cozy sweaters, mittens, coats, and scarves.
It’s also the time when many of us dread having to fall back in time, a practice that’s been in place since 1918. About 10 to 20% of adults get the winter blues, and 3% get seasonal affective disorder. The good news is that this will be the last November that we have to lose that precious hour of light at the end of the day, as the Sunshine Protection Act, which gives it back to us, takes effect next year.
Medical experts recommend that we do our best to maintain our health in cooler weather, starting with getting outside during daylight, even on cold and cloudy days. Other ways to nurture our spirits include doing things we love, such as seeing a play, visiting the zoo, library, museum, a holiday craft fair, or a favorite store. It’s also a great time to bake something scrumptious, try a winter sport, volunteer, read a great book, or engage in a fun craft or hobby. For me, it’s knitting.
November is a wonderful time to appreciate all of the ways that the scents of the season awaken our senses. It’s also a good time to give thanks for the good things in our lives, and hope for better days for those who faced extraordinary challenges in the past couple of years. It’s a great time to take care of ourselves and one another.
What will you be baking? If it turns out great, please share it with us for our December issue at info@buffalohealthyliving.com.
Happy Thanksgiving!
