Image Collage: Hibernation vs Ecosystem Nation
“Love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.”~ Louisa May Alcott - Little Men
A quick survey of the web produces dozens of blogs, lists, etc. professing the cures for the winter blahs (or, winter blues, if you prefer).
Advice ranges from getting exercise to treating yourself; from embracing the season to getting social support; from getting more sun to getting more sleep.
At PeapodLife, we think the key thing to remember about the winter blahs is its relationship to our deeply-rooted hibernation instincts.
Let’s face it, no matter how much you love the outdoors, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. at the end of a long day of activity in the cold, you want nothing more than to come inside and enjoy a hot beverage by the fire, or curl up under a duvet and sleep in ‘til noon the next day.
It’s appropriate that Valentine’s Day is in February, because certainly lovers like nothing more than to huddle and cuddle on a cold winter’s night.
The bottom line, whether supported by science or not, we think everyone living in Canada or other northern climates can decide for themselves whether or not they have “hibernation tendencies.”
Image: Can Humans Hibernate?
Source: www.personal.psu.edu: Pennsylvania State University: SiOWfa12: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy: Can Humans Hibernate?
Now consider that one of the common symptoms of depression is lethargy and chronic tiredness! Surely there might be a connection between the hibernation-like feelings of curling up, cuddling up, staying in and sleeping and the winter blues...again, feelings of lethargy, lack of motivation, etc.
It’s no wonder many of the “cures” for the winter blahs happen to be word-for-word copies of anti-depression strategies!
And sure, there are as fancy blue lights, recipes and regimens to go along with the fancy terminology: “SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder”. Now don’t misunderstand us: for many SAD is a serious condition that causes them a great deal of discomfort and outright suffering.
Medical advice is to eat foods and engage in activities (such as exercise) which increase levels of serotonin. It’s all about raising and maintaining energy levels.
But if it all comes down to raising your energy levels, why not surround yourself with a space of love? After all, isn’t love the highest energy we humans need? And doesn’t love increase our levels of serotonin the most? Best of all, a space of love increases our positive energy just by being in it.
PeapodLife suggests injecting your life with one of our high order rainforest ecosystems.
No matter how cold it gets outside, it’s tough to get depressed and discouraged when your den is teaming with life! Bright colours, dynamic changes, orchids, tropical fish, full-spectrum lighting systems, and more!
YouTube Video: PeapodLife Living Wall EcoSystem
At PeapodLife, we think Canadians would do well to swap hibernation for an ecosystem nation.
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