Saturday, December 11, 2010

Dear Annual Gift Man*

As mentioned many times previously here, I just don’t “do” the holiday season.

This year has been a little bit better because beginning when the clock changed back to Standard Time in November, I started using a light therapy box every morning for 30 minutes. I feel a little silly sitting in front of the light, but I drink coffee and read. It’s kind of a forced relaxation before work, which is not a bad thing. The light therapy seems to be working, as I find that I don’t want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head the second I get home from work. Even with the week of hell I just experienced, I haven’t bottomed out as I usually do this time in December.

As I tweeted earlier this week, “I've found I'm not so utterly miserable about the holiday season as usual, just vaguely indifferent.”

And I’ll take “indifferent” over “miserable” most of the time.

So, even though I don’t really celebrate the Xmas season, I still have a wishlist. Hey, blame it on all those gift guides on the net and in print.

Disclaimer: Yes, world peace, health care reform, homes for all the kitties and puppies in shelters, I want all that, blah, blah, blah. Just let me be narcissistic and self-centered on my blog (Ooo! Like a product-grubbing mommyblogger!), which is a rarity ‘round these parts. Let me have some fun, damnit!

* A reference to The Simpsons episode 8.15 “Homer’s Phobia”, where Homer and Bart are saved by John Waters’ creepy Japanese Santa robot called “Annual Gift Man”.

3 comments:

birds fly said...

My cat does that, too. She has pretty much cleared her belly and is now working on her back legs. I started feeding her these treats that are loaded with B vitamins and other "feel good" supplements, but I haven't seen much difference. A vet once suggested Prozac but like you I can't bring myself to go down that road.

Interesting about the light box. I considered getting one when I moved back to the northeast and was struggling during my first winter here. I'm glad to hear it works for you. I may yet get one.

Synd-e said...

I never thought the light box would work either. I actually received it as a gift during holidays 2009, but didn't start using it until this November. I was a little hesitant that it was just new agey/holistic hokum, but I feel much more "even" than last year. It's a little easier to get up in the mornings.

And I don't agree with animal antidepressants either... it's just kind of disturbing. Plus, getting the cat to take pills after his surgery last year was difficult enough. Couldn't imagine having to do it every day.

Jen said...

I bought a light box this year too! And an alarm clock that is also a lamp that starts gradually lighter 30 mins before I have to get up. I think both are helping a lot. I'll take "indifferent" over "miserable" too. I'd also take a perfect one-strap style messenger bag from the Annual Gift Man, but I've been on a similar quest for years and you're right, it probably doesn't exist.