sunshine therapy

Playing in the dirt keeps me grounded.

That's one of the phrases that will appear on t-shirts sold at Garden of Eatin', when I open it.

Seriously. January has had me in a funk. I just can't bring myself to want to do ANYTHING -- and when anything includes hanging out with friends and eating cookies and playing with fonts and reading books, you know its bad.

I realized yesterday that I needed some dirt and sunshine. They've proven that inadequate exposure to sunlight can cause depression ...I haven't heard any studies about mineral absorption through handling of dirt, but there's something there too, I'm certain.

This morning after de-segregation pancakes (white pancakes with black chocolate chips) for breakfast, I sat down to my tea and time with Jesus. There were mostly clouds outside. A little blue, but just enough to make me want to cry. So I asked for sunshine, acknowledging that it wasn't entirely imperative for my survival, but it would be heartily received if given. Then I checked the weather report: rain, rain, rain. All week. Sigh.

An hour later I looked outside: SUNSHINE! And a perfectly blue sky. I weeded. I cleaned up yard debris. I trimmed the everbearing raspberry canes. I sprayed lime sulphur on the peach and nectarine trees. I swept the garage. I measured and plotted three areas of the yard for future landscape projects. I talked to the neighbor. And her dog. I had the urge to get my swimsuit and dance, but...the party stopped there...

What a gift. Who knows if it'll pull me out of the Januaryness of it all, but my body and spirit are singing and that's enough for now...