I hate February…
And I hate how I always find myself in a giant funk this time of year. It’s ridiculous. After 41 years of February’s and recognizing how they make me feel for at least half of those, I should do something about it to prepare myself. But every, single year, February comes along and hits me like a freight train. And I get in a bummed, could give a care less about anything, mood.
So I’ve had a month… nothing bad at all has happened. In fact, if I would step back and look at things, it’s been a great month. But still, mood over matter, and bad mood wins.
I was in the car yesterday when the song “I Lived” by One Republic came on. I’ve heard this song hundreds of times. But yesterday, I really heard it for the first time. It’s like the lyrics were screaming at me…”Wake up and listen, Kristen!” And so I did, and it woke me up.
If I died tomorrow, which God willing I won’t, do I want to admit to phoning it in, each and every February? I know I don’t. As the song says “I owned every second that this world could give.” That is how I want to live, February and all. I’m letting a lot of seconds pass me by…not anymore. I want to be able to say “I swear, I lived.”
(PS…the “I Lived” music video is inspiring…I hope you’ll watch it and feel inspired to live!)
(PPS… I’m not the only hater of February out there. This “Hey, can you not invite February” post cracks me up!)
February is such a B. I actually wrote about this same topic in my weekly newsletter. I feel like so many people get discouraged, especially at the end of the month but this time is also such a crucial time because we are at the cusp of spring! I’ve already noticed it stays lighter out past 4pm. lol Progress right? xoxo
That definitely is progress! Once that sun starts to stay out longer, I’m all better! Can’t wait!
I have this same problem, but with January. I feel much better this month, but I do want to find a way to get through that month with more ease & grace going forward. Still trying to figure out the best way to do that. But I figure being more aware of it & wanting to make things better is a good start.
I think that’s my goal too – nothing magical, but simply awareness BEFORE the month starts so I know how to deal with how I’m feeling instead of letting it kick me in the butt. Hey – you made it through your tough month. Congrats!!!
Dang it now I am crying. This was the song played at my friend’s memorial yesterday and it was such a perfect song for him, he truly did live in his short time here on earth. Not a dry eye in the church. The wintertime blues can be so hard – this is a great time to lean on friends to help keep those blues away and listen to songs like this. With tissues and waterproof mascara. Love you friend!!
I would have been a mess during that memorial with this song playing.
It’s interesting to me, with you being from sunny Las Vegas, that you get the winter blues too! It just goes to show that it is a universal thing… not just limited to those of us with snow and dreary days. This winter in Kansas actually hasn’t even been too horrible, and we’ve had a lot of sunny days, and I still feel blah. So strange!
And here I was, thinking I was the only one hating February. So glad to know there is more of us! We celebrate our anniversary and our youngest daughter’s birthday yet February is my least favorite month. It’s the shortest, yet it feels like it’s dragging! I am so anxious for Spring!
PS: LOVE the song!!
You most definitely aren’t alone…and we’re almost there. We can do it!
I’m right there with you!!…..in Feb I rarely leave the house (Steve does most of the grocery shopping for me) I have no motivation and just feel blah. This morning I actually went back to bed an hour after I got up because I felt so down….i went to the guest room, still couldn’t turn off my brain. Feeling down and no idea why. Later I sat out on the deck for about 10 minutes hoping the fresh air and sunshine would help, and it did. —
Love that One Republic song, and like you I never really LISTENED to it.
~Be Happy 😉 xoxoxo
I wish we could be bummed out together in the same place. I would have gone back to bed too.
Next year we’ll have our permanent reminder to not let this stupid month get us down 🙂
I’m a February hater, too. It’s like I’m wishing my life away just to get this month over with. This last week of the month, I’m going to change that. I’m going to own every second. Thanks for the honesty!
Oh Terri – you said it so perfectly when you said you were wishing your life away just to get this month over with. That is EXACTLY how I feel about it!
We can do this!
I’m right there with you! I LOVE that song! I have made a bigger effort this year to be more “in the moment” and find ways to keep my spirits higher. It’s been so much easier… in spite of the awful weather we’ve had this month. I hope that you find the inspiration to make this last week of February a happier time!
January and February are tough for me too. It’s the lack of light and of course the bitter cold and snow here in the Northeast. This winter couldn’t be worse with the relentless snow we have been getting. But it is getting a bit lighter each night and I’m holding on to that to get me to spring! I also have a spring countdown on my desk at work.
Living in Az., February is perfect weather! I get through the month by enjoying a beautiful bike ride every morning… so glad to hear you made it through !
I have been in SUCH a bad mood, and I never thought to attribute it to general February blues…but that is definitely IT! And now that I’ve identified the problem…I can SQUASH it. Love this!
Messages come from the Universe in many ways–IF you listen. Good for you. Wonderful post.
You Listened!!!!!
I can certainly relate to this! It’s almost over though! I can’t wait for the days to get a little longer and for it to be warm enough to have wine on my porch. Ahhhhh.
So … what we need to do is figure out where in the Southern Hemisphere we all could go each February. I’m sure school boards would welcome the idea of schooling kids via internet: it’d boost morale (surely) and possibly attendance (albeit virtually), flu wouldn’t circulate as much (awesome bonus!), snow days would no longer outnumber make-up days, etc. 😉
Very cool about noticing the lyrics, btw. Ugh, I feel like I’m hibernating…! (Hug)
We dance to this in my dance class and I swear that this class is what has been keeping my spirits up in this miserable winter. There is just something about that song- it’s so beautiful!
Great post! I hadn’t heard that song before. So I guess we can finally say TGIM! I feel exactly like you describe every single year. But, this year I’m on vitamin D enhanced with light therapy. It hasn’t been a super dramatic change but I’ve noticed a difference this year.