November gets a bad rap. (Or if you prefer, it has a bad rep-utation.) Why? Oh, you can just tick the reasons off on all fingers and toes and have some left over – much has to do with the weather, shorter days, colder temps, holiday stress on the rise, yadayadayada. November is a month of contradictions. Here in Vermont, though the trees are bare and there’s often an engulfing bleakness, it’s also a time of growing excitement for winter sports enthusiasts. Goodness, one of our ski areas, Killington, is already open! Ice hockey, ice climbing, winter hiking, snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing, riding (snowboard), fat-biking and even dog-sledding provide loads of outdoor activities in spite of, or because of, the colder temps.
November is certainly a month of differences, if not conflicts. Politically there are elections. Hunting can be a hot topic as the contrast between ethical and foolish hunters is critical. Though the deer might not be having a lot of fun during rifle season, there is an element of sport for the rest of us. As I don my orange hat and vest and dress my dogs in their orange bandanas and coats, I am reminded that the color orange also represents play. And play is so very important!
Even the Thanksgiving Day holiday has generated debate. While November is often referred to as a month of remembrance, note this: in some traditions it is the dead (especially those who are reportedly in purgatory) who need our prayers; yet it is on Veteran’s Day that we remember the living who have served our country and need our thanks.
Daylight Saving Time? What’s up with that? The outrage! Setting our clocks back (does anyone really do that anymore – doesn’t your device handle this chore these days?) triggers SAD (seasonal affective disorder) – or some variation thereof – in so many. Losing that hour of daylight at the end of the day is purportedly tragic. Well, perhaps it is not so bad. Annually I am reminded of (possibly romanticized, but enticing) stories of farmers who no longer worked the fields late into the night, but instead came indoors in the late afternoon after the livestock were fed and bedded down for the night, and sat by the fire mending harness or knitting.
For me, early light is preferable. My Labs need a nice long walk in the woods first thing and watching the sunrise is more desirable than wearing my headlamp. It’s all in the viewpoint, as they say, but perhaps as we are disgruntled, we could practice reframing our outlook and our subsequent experience. Worth a try, don’t you think?
And if you are upset over the first Thanksgiving feast, perhaps focus on the intention might be sharpened. I do not need to belabor this concept.
Gratitude is an enormous word – especially these days as so many work to support mental well-being.
Finally, let’s lighten up with a nod to a few of the many (just use your search engine if you’d like more) holidays to be observed during this month.
11-1: World Vegan Day*
11-4: Use Your Common Sense Day
11-9: Chaos Never Dies Day
11-14: National Pickle Day
11-19: Have a Bad Day Day
11-24: Black Friday. (Flannel Friday in Montpelier, Vermont).
Also, Buy Nothing Day
11-30: Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day
And, today? As I write this post? It’s Have a Beautiful Day Day. Furthermore, may you have a season filled with family, friends, love and gratitude.
*(The little pics you see on this post are of a few of my little treasures scattered throughout my home. I love even the tiniest of reminders. Funny, though, I was unable to find anything that said something like “turkey safe zone – this house is vegan.”)