Overcoming The Blahs

The winter has been long. The days have been drawn-out and drab and dreary. We've been kept inside for much too long. It's too cold to go outside and too tiresome to stay inside. We have "cabin fever." We're battling a case of the "winter blahs!"

Is there no way to rid ourselves of the blahs? Sir William Osler, renowned Canadian physician/writer, offers us good advice on battling the blahs.

"Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine... the true poetry of life."

How one looks at life makes all the difference. We see life through the eyes of our parents and grandparents. We see life as limited by the past, by what we know; we cannot see beyond what we have learned.

We see life in blacks and grays as reported on the nightly news; life is hopeless and we are helpless.

Then Christ comes!

He opens our eyes, gives us new sight and fresh insight into life. Now, we see life through the eyes of the One who created life. Now, we are empowered to see life in all its richness, fullness, abundance, see life with all its color, fragrance, motion and rhythm, see a million possibilities in each situation. Life is too wondrous, too hopeful to ever tolerate the blahs!

Osler goes on to say, "I have three personal ideals. One is to do the day's work well and not bother about tomorrow. The second is to act out the Golden Rule. And the third has been to cultivate such a manner of equanimity as would enable me to bear success with humility, the affection of family and friends without pride, and to be ready, when the day of sorrow and grief comes, to meet it with the courage befitting a man." An ideal way to combat the holiday blahs.

Concentrating on ways to do our work well keeps one from getting bogged down in dull routines, feeling useless or without purpose, and allowing anxiety and stress to shape our lives. Concentrating on living out the Golden Rule in one's daily life keeps a person focused on all that is good and gracious in others and all that is wondrous in the world. Concentrating on maintaining a balance in life keeps one centered on the virtues in life and helps one overcome the vices.

Finally, Sir William writes, "We are here to add what we can to life, not to see what we can get from life!" Giving the best we have in order to further the cause of goodness and righteousness chases the blahs. Putting the needs of others ahead of one's own puts the blahs on the run. Thinking of un-thought-of solutions to life's situations leaves no time for the blahs.

Winter weather doesn't necessarily lead to that blah feeling -- feeling down, feeling sorry for oneself. We need to take charge of our life, rely on the wisdom and strength God gives us, and say "No" to the blahs.

-- Dr. Don Kuehle is a retired United Methodist minister who lives in Jackson. Opinions are those of the author.

Religion on 02/04/2016