I have such fond memories of the huge aloe plant that sat in front of the bay window in the house that I grew up in. I remember my father would break off a piece of a leaf, revealing the gooey, icky slime, and smear it on whatever cut or scrape we had. That aloe plant never seemed to wither and never died, despite its constant use. I did not know then the power that this spiky greenery conveyed. I do now. The first thing you may notice is an increase in your heart rate. This quickly accelerates, until it feels as though the organ is literally about to burst out of your chest. Your breathing automatically speeds up, becomes shallow and labored, and you may begin hyperventilating. The cold, brutal weather and shortened days of winter can lead to depression for some. You may find yourself irritable, unable to concentrate, less energetic, and eating more. The 'Winter Blues' is a form of a more severe condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). |
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