This morning, I stared into the bathroom mirror and thought, "I wonder if I'm having a midlife crisis?" I'd been wondering what there was to look forward to -- 20 more years to work (God willing and the creek don't rise), and what will be any different, year in and year out?
And then a thought occurred to me: "Or is all of this doom and gloom simply because it's February?"
It's amazing how cheering that thought has been! A midlife crisis causes all sorts of upheaval, while February will wind its way down in just another week or so.
When I told D. about it this afternoon, she said, "It's your mid-year crisis. You have one every single year." I wouldn't have said this was the case, but it is true that every year I think, "I've just got to get through January," and then I'm always surprised that February sucks as well.
So, yes, I guess this is my annual mid-year crisis.
My lifelong February blues have been worse since mid-life. I think the whole "twenty more years for what" question gets really acute. Hang in there and be good to yourself.
Posted by: servetus | February 18, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Yeah... jo(e) has the hardest time with February... (but then again, she has very complex & sad family history connected with this month -- car accidents & her brother not talking to her for 8 years... the deep stuff we learn about each other through over a decade of blogging and blog reading, it's marvelous!)
... and before she blogged about it, I'd never thought it was a problematic month, but it is -- at least in the Northern Hemisphere (I think in the Southern H. where I grew up it would be August that it's an "in between month, end of "winter")
I hope the realization that you're having a mid-year crisis can cheer you up a bit! As for mid-life crisis... WOW... I have to work for 25+ years before retiring... sigh...
Posted by: L - Mama(e) in Translation | February 19, 2016 at 12:12 AM
Hey WN,
Just an idea. I want to read that Sandy Tolan book too, and maybe at some point in the future when we're both into it, we could read it together and talk about it?
Every year I say and believe this: There's a reason why February is the shortest month. Also, it never feels like it's the shortest month. It's so easy to be really edgy and/or depressed in February, especially if you live in a place with real weather. Could this be SAD? I know where I live (more north than you, I'd guess), there's not enough sun and so people end up with major vitamin d deficiencies. Just sayin'.
EE
Posted by: Earnest English | February 21, 2016 at 11:15 AM
February is the worst! It's really unfortunate that my Eldest's birthday is in February, because I'm always in a mood the whole month long. Bah!
It's funny how D said that you have an annual mid-year crisis. Hubby makes the same sorts of observations about me too. I never even notice how predictable I am, but when I'm complaining about the same sorts of things at the same times of the year over and over, he points it out and reminds me that I got through it last year and the year before, and I'll get through it again. The predictability is always shocking to me, but to him, it's just the rhythm of the school year.
Posted by: Fie Upon This Quiet Life | February 21, 2016 at 04:04 PM
EE, I'd love to talk about Sandy Tolan's book with you! It could be a havruta thing!
Posted by: What Now? | February 21, 2016 at 08:56 PM
Yay!!! Sounds great!
Posted by: Earnest English | February 22, 2016 at 07:25 AM
I thought about Jo(e)'s February post when I read yours--here's hoping for a happier March, and the grace to muddle through until things open up. And I also thought of Dar Williams' wonderful song about February: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy-v-UgNhuI
Posted by: Susan | February 22, 2016 at 01:32 PM