How to Beat the Winter Blues

It is mid-February on the East Coast of the United States. I am writing from my dad’s house in New Jersey in a town located near the Toms River and the Atlantic Ocean. I am feeling stir crazy. The weather has been what it should be at this time of year, but it just feels like winter has no end in sight.  A series of snow and sleet storms have been in the forecast. Commuting and local driving has been tricky. Even though now, this morning, the sun is shining brightly, you can’t do a lot outside. The temps aren’t that great. My dad’s hearing isn’t great either. He is a news freak, so at his place the broadcasting network CNN seems as if on full blast 24/7. It’s not that big a deal but today it feels annoying as hell. I am tired and if you haven’t sensed yet, more than a little cranky.

Pamela, A Love Story

On my bus ride home from NYC last night, I started to watch the Netflix documentary on sex symbol and actress Pamela Anderson, Pamela, A Love Story (2023). My commute was long—it was due to icy road conditions. It was a bit surreal. Watching Anderson embrace her sexuality and feminine power after an abuse ridden childhood while a NJ transit bus driver negotiated challenging driving terrain. Honestly, I didn’t know that much about her stormy relationship with drummer Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, and yeah, I don’t really know any of the band’s stuff. Her bio is crazy—she loved fiercely. She lived unencumbered. Freely. After she was able to let go of the heavy weight of self-imposed guilt stemming from the molestation she endured as a kid, she owned who she was. Hey, was it crazy to marry Lee upon knowing him for only four days? Was it the smartest thing to document their every sex move on video tape? Who knows? She lived. She lived hard. Yet she also knew when it was time to leave. What not to tolerate. She knew when to say good-bye. (Spoiler alert. Lee did physically abuse Anderson, and they do split up.)

Winter Thaw

As related already, I am tired today. Maybe it’s masking a bit of pent-up frustration? Where is my inner Pamela Anderson? My C.J. from Baywatch fame? Anderson worked intensively throughout her career and doesn’t appear finished yet. She is intense. Passionate. Within the content of her documentary, she did exclaim something like I love, loving but love has its sides. Its facets. She got married several times but realized her one true love might have been Tommy Lee. Anyway, what can we learn from this? From her life experiences?  Is it time to be a little more? Throw some caution to the wind? Love a little more fiercely? Commit yourself to a goal, project or person a bit more?  Show up entirely?

So, what’s one way to beat the winter blues? Turn up the heat. Literally. Physically. Pursue something radically. Stop thinking of the cold weather and focus on the now. Your internal drive will incite a thaw like none other and before you know it, springtime will ensue.  Let’s go!