Why Didn't I Think of That?

Earlier this week, after my cardio-dance/yoga class, I was sitting downstairs in the tiny little office/sitting room of the dance studio. I was all dressed but not quite ready to go back out into the night and make my way home. Most everyone else had left. My yoga teacher asked me how I was doing. I told her that I had been feeling down, partly, I thought, because I had been sick. And because of the weather. And other things. Because she seemed to want to listen, I told her a few things that were going on and how I had been feeling. She listened attentively, and then said, "It's really important, when you're feeling like that and you're sick and it's winter, to eat fresh food--fruits and vegetables."

I felt grateful to have a piece of advice so simple and so easy to act on. It's true, I don't eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and certainly not in the winter. So I had some fruit with my lunch the next day.

I still felt pretty bad, though, even after the fruit. (I guess you have to do these things continuously, not just for one day!) At night, when I arrived at the place where I teach, I talked to one of my colleagues who is a friend. Putting my head down on his desk, I said I felt terrible, that I was sick and depressed and I had a headache. He said, "It's a good idea to try to get outside during the day, get some light and air, even if it's cold."

I thought back over the day, the past few days, in fact. Had I gone outside during the day? No. I hurry to work in the morning, get lunch from the little coffee shop in my building because who wants to go outside when it is so cold, then hurry to whatever I am doing at night: dance, teaching, or home to huddle inside.

So, another piece of good advice from a friend. I felt grateful again. And I have been trying to act on his advice, too, going outside at lunchtime even when it's cold.

And I am dreaming, dreaming, dreaming of spring.