Halloween Is Over; How To Survive November

“You know what I don’t like about Halloween?” my son asked me once. “I don’t like it when it’s over.” Well, I thought, I don’t like it much either, because when carved pumpkins, bats and skeletons, witches and vampires suddenly disappear from everywhere, and the crazy holiday atmosphere is gone, most people face a problem of how to survive November.

Year after year, fighting my November blues, I thought that when I grow older and have more spare time, I would write a book, and I’d call it “The Art of Surviving November”. The name has always been with me, I played with it in my head, turned it around, marveled at its concise beauty, and put it away for later.

Recently I found out, much to my dismay, that I am late. Just about twenty years late. For there is a nice Swedish writer, Lars Gustafsson, who wrote the story with this name in 1981, and the story was translated and published in English in 1986. I have read it. It is not my art of surviving November. But it has its own right to be called so, and I no longer feel sorry for the name that has been taken from me. It’s just got a new meaning.

But I decided at least to write something about surviving November anyway. Even if these are just some thoughts about what helps me chase away the depression.

When it’s dark and rainy outside, and the wind tears the last leaves off the trees, I like to think how cozy I am, whether sitting in my warm and nice office, with a mug of coffee, and actually enjoying work (because in summer most of the time I think about getting out and being outdoors), or at home, under my nice warm blanket, with a good book and a bowl of apples.

Both at home and at work, I try to add more light. At home I replace the lamp bulbs with brighter ones, turn desk lamps and stand lamps. You may thinks it is wasteful but it is honestly worth it, because it somewhat compensates for the daylight we are not getting at this time of the year. Or at least it seems like it.

In November I often go back to my favorite things. A favorite book that you can reread, a favorite movie to watch for the hundredth time, a favorite suit that you like to wear – there are many old favorite things that cheer us up, right?

And just as important, in November I add new things to my life. Over the years I studied massage and feng shui, Portuguese language and knitting, landscape design and Internet marketing, and many other things. As it turned out, it was not only good for fighting depressions; I’ve got myself a reputation of a woman who knows everything about everything.

Although I do not like shopping much and never considered it an efficient solution to my problems, in November I do like to buy unnecessary things, funny accessories, something I’d never wear again, something totally ridiculous… but very funny. Among the purchases were a yellow umbrella with monkeys in jungles (didn’t I enjoy myself in the middle of the bluish-grayish-black street with most people turning around and staring!), pink sweater with little rosebuds, huge red inflatable armchair, long black, red and white scarf…

Everybody knows that “forced smiling”, when you have exactly nothing to smile at, helps. But how many people stand in front of the mirror and actually stretch their lips, and try to walk around grinning like crazy for a few minutes? Well, I do. And you know what? It helps. Just try.

Helen Bondare,

More thoughts of different authors on a variety of subjects [http://travel.syl.com/travel]

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