'Tis the Season(al Depression)

The temperature is below eighty degrees? It's cloudy? It gets dark at six p.m.? My life is horrible and everything is bad on this earth and I want to cry.

This is a common irrational rationale that goes through my mind in the fall and winter months. I thrive in happy sunshiney weather. Naturally, I am pretty concerned about sad Jadyn making her way into late September through February. I am honestly scared about the upcoming months because I don't want to get all depressed as I usually do.

Obviously, I don't want to waste half of my life hating seasons God created. Everything He made is good (1 Timothy 4:4). So, I curated a list of happy things in the fall (mostly for my own sanity but I hope it helps someone else, too). This list is not exhaustive! There is an infinite amount of beautiful things in life to enjoy. I thank God for His lovingkindness towards us, for creating a world with so much joy and wonder.

(The Squeaky Mixer)

Fun fall things:

• Make those Pillsbury sugar cookies with the pumpkins on them. Extra points if you make it into a cheesecake like this recipe: https://thesqueakymixer.com/pillsbury-sugar-cookie-cheesecake/.

• Go to a pumpkin patch with friends/parents/significant other.

• Carve the pumpkin(s) you get from said pumpkin patch.

• Dress up for Halloween with some friends, go to your favorite restaurant, and take fun pictures.

• Write cards to people in your life and tell them you're grateful for them.

• Go to a haunted house (the cheesy ones are really fun with the right people).

• Watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on a rainy Saturday.

• Embrace your inner white girl and get some sort of pumpkin drink at your favorite coffee shop.

• Wander down the candle aisle and smell all the fall candles. Buy one for someone you love. :)

• Go to football games!

• Buy fun, cozy sweaters from thrift stores.

• Go to a fall carnival. Get your face painted, ride the Ferris wheel, eat cotton candy! Do it all!

• Listen to soft jazz, read a book, and put on your favorite fuzzy socks.

• Make a hand turkey and write what you're thankful for.

• Jump in a pile of leaves. It's so fun.

• Have a BYOB (bring your own blanket) bonfire/campfire night and make s'mores!

• Find a soup recipe you've never tried before, cook it with someone(s) you love, and set the table super cute and fall-like!

I hope to do every single one of these things before December. This list makes me happy. I hope it does the same for you :)

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created." Rev. 4:11

Happy fall!!!!

Jadyn