On a Sunday morning, I found myself thinking about the winter blues, or for that matter, the blues in general. I am a firm believer in finding whatever it is that you are looking for. What has always worked for me has been to find the positive in the day as it unfolds. Some days may be more challenging than others to see a positive note to carry you through the day.
I still remember one rainy day waking up in a fast-food restaurant in Heflin, AL. It was a cold rainy morning when the time came to start my day. The first view to start the day was a dumpster as the sleeper curtains were opened. My first thoughts were, what have I done with my life to start the day looking into a dumpster?
This was going to be the start of a day, which would prove to be challenging to find a positive note to carry me through. Then I decided not to let myself fall into a rut. I said to myself that it was time to find a positive thought to begin the day.
The first thing that came to mind was how happy I was to find this parking spot at the end of my driving shift the day before. It had been a long hard day, and traffic backups made it to where I would have to find a parking spot in an unfamiliar exit. When I arrived at this location, there was one spot open, which was a great thing as there were only about fifteen minutes left available without violating the hours of service rules.
I went inside to have breakfast with a bit more of a positive note but still was struggling on this cold rainy morning. After sitting down for breakfast, it was time to search, in order to get in a positive state of mind before hitting the road.
The next thing that came to mind was how fortunate I was to have all of the positive friends in my life. Many of these friends have no idea how much of a positive influence they have been on my life personally and professionally.
As the winter season is upon us, it is important to stay upbeat and not let the winter doldrums get us down. Here are some ways I fight getting down during the winter season.
1 - Start the morning with a nutritious breakfast. Preferably with some blueberries which are rich in vitamin B. This always starts the day out on a positive note and gives me the energy to take on the day.
2 – Make my bed and organize my sleeper. This act starts the day with a sense of accomplishment, and if it is a rough day, you will be able to come back to a bed that is made. This video I saw many years ago got me to start my day this way. Its the simplest of tasks that will start the day out on the right foot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IOFvdBh2u8
3 – Call your loved ones if it's not too early in the day. If not family, call a friend who you know will be up, as having interaction with another human being is always a positive way to start the day.
4 – Clean your windshield and mirrors as this will give you a clear view, and this always improves my mood.
5 – Go for a walk to get the blood moving. Your body will thank you for the exercise, plus it gives you a chance to awaken before you start the day. I like to do this in combination with calling a loved one so I can share what scenery is in the area. Sometimes it is fun to Facetime during the walk so the person on the other end of the call can see what you see on the walk.
6 – Make a plan in your head as to how you are going to make the most of this new day as it unfolds before you.
These are all of the things I do regularly while on the road, regardless of the season. In reality, I enjoy all of the seasons but looking for the positive in every day is how I stay upbeat and not let the blues get me down.