Seasonally Sad
December 6, 2023
Writer: Miranda Jefferds
Editor: Chloe Cardello
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to experience all four seasons. I was born in Florida and moved to Texas when I was ten, so the constant heat is all I’ve ever known. Although Texas has chilly weather and we occasionally get snow, I’ve never experienced a true fall and winter. I've never woken up to snowfall sticking on the ground or seen amber sunlight shining through brilliant orange and red leaves. I’ve never sipped on hot chocolate while trudging through the snow to class or had a real snowball fight. Some would call me crazy for being excited about this aspect of Michigan, but as a freshman, I’m looking forward to enduring the long winter.
It’s no secret that winter can be mentally exhausting and draining; often, it can feel like when the sun goes away, so does our happiness. Between the snow slush on the ground and the bitter cold, getting out of this winter “funk” can be difficult. Despite this feeling that we Michigan students dread, I believe we can all avoid, or at least mitigate, this seasonal sadness and enjoy all four seasons by developing new relationships and routines and maintaining habits that inspire happiness. I hope that by the end of my first year, I will have not only enjoyed my first true winter but also helped others turn the cold from a frustrating development into a happy change.
Unlike Michigan, the Texas heat blisters six months out of the year. With temperatures reaching above 100 degrees all summer, we adapt to the heat by planning fun activities, like pool parties, to beat the heat. Though Michigan’s winters are the polar opposite of Texas summers, the same mindset can be applied. Whether this means bunkering down with your dorm community or making creative, holiday meals with your roommates, it’s crucial to identify activities to make the winter not only bearable, but fun. I personally am excited to make a Trader Joe’s dinner, filled with pumpkin-themed foods, with the girls in my hall. I look forward to studying in the cozy common room with my friends while snowflakes gently fall outside. Developing relationships with the people in your building or apartment can minimize the loneliness that can come with the winter to help avoid feeling isolated in the winter.
When thinking about the upcoming winter, another concern I have is how my wardrobe will change. Knowing that most of my time will be spent wearing my new knee-length winter coat inspires a feeling of dread; layering and large coats, though practical and necessary, made me feel bulky and uncomfortable. When I look good, I feel good, so wearing clothes that make me feel confident is necessary to avoid insecurity and diminishing mental wellness. Building a cute, but practical winter wardrobe filled with warm and flattering layers is going to be crucial for this winter. I know it will be easier for me to wake up and go to my early morning classes in the cold if I’m excited to curate outfits every day.
As we do in the other mundane aspects of life, mastering the art of romanticization can make the cold much easier to endure; even adding the littlest things into your routine or making the smallest adjustments to your mindset can make a huge difference. For example, creating a playlist full of wintery songs to listen to while walking across campus can distract from the unenjoyable walks in the freezing cold. Watching the leaves outside your window turn from dull green to vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Finding a great book to read while curled up under a warm blanket. Make tea or cocoa in your room to debrief with your roommate while it's snowing outside. Even though there will still be moments where the changing seasons can inspire sadness, we must recognize that this change is something to enjoy, appreciate, and relish.
I am so grateful for the fact that I am going to experience the changing seasons for the first time. Just as the environment around me is beginning anew, I am also on the precipice of a new beginning - one that includes memories and experiences I will cherish for life.
Image: Julia Bonnano
