Last weekend, we ended daylight-saving time locally. When it ends, we turn the clocks back one hour in the middle of Sunday night. I also experience a seasonal struggle of understanding the lack of sunlight and daylight that is experienced and the reality of being indoors often. While I am hopeful that there will be a milder winter, that may not be the case and therefore I must be willing to accept that things are more challenging than what they have been in winter’s past.

Last holiday season was a struggle, partly because I was not caring for myself in the way that I needed to. I now realize that I must do more to better care for myself than what I have previously. While I am more self-aware of the challenges that the changing of time has been, it can be challenging if I make it out to be challenged instead of making better decisions and doing more of what I need to do to embrace the spirit of the season.

There are realities that must be understood and that things must still be done as if there were no changes to the seasonal clock. It can be hard to understand that and realize that even though these things must be done, there is also the reality that the clock has changed, and we are no longer in daylight-saving time, therefore it is very important that I take care of my mental health, regardless of whether I believe that I am OK without doing certain things.

In recent years, caring for mental health has been at the heart of the discussion in the world due to so many things happening in the world. It can be hard to digest a lot of information about things without bringing up feelings and even memories that are challenging to process. There can be an unwillingness to do things that seem challenging that are fun, but I encourage everyone to do those things for you may never know when you may ever have the chance to do them again.

Last year I was extremely depressed and chose not to celebrate the holidays in the way that I should have, but I am determined to celebrate completely this year because I have done more to care for myself and as hard as it can be without some not being able to celebrate in ways that have been done in the past, things must go on, but ultimately it is still important to care for my mental health always because I will never know what challenges I may face along the path that I travel along the way.

There could be a million reasons to not celebrate the upcoming changes, but there is a reality that things are going to happen whether that want to celebrate them or not. There is also the reality that I must continue to have my own traditions while embarking on those in my family that have been rooted in generations. It is important to not only me, but my family and friends as well.