These are just the days to make anyone wish for warmer climates. The air quality is in the unhealthy range. Not even animals should be out in this stuff. No one is to start any fireplace to even try and get warmer.

The sky is gray and overcast and with every breath you take in it feels like little arrows piercing your lungs. If ever there were any Christmas spirit among all of this, you’d be hardpressed to find it.

Shoppers still scurry amongst the various shops looking for all those bargains they are sure still exist in various venues in our area. The cold grayness of the day holds only the promise that there is more on the way. The hope is that the wind will come up and force the yuck from the sky long enough to afford us the ability to start a nice warm fire before it closes in again upon us.

Things could be worse though. We could be deploying to a foreign land to fight for our country’s freedom thousands of miles from our true home and loved ones. We would be in a land where no one knew us or what we stand for and we would have to re-establish our ties all over again in a land that would be totally foreign to us.

It’s only human nature to want to get yourself out of this funk over the weather and the cold. There are many things one can do to get over the seemingly endless blahs during the winter and especially at Christmas time. There are lots of charitable causes that are collecting food stuffs and toys for the needy at this time of year. These organizations are always in need of assistance if you’re so inclined.

If you want to have a feel good experience, help serve meals at your favorite soup kitchen. Many groups make Christmas gifts for the needy.

Many churches have the need for extra assistance at special Christmas church services. You could help out with these services as well as find a degree of fulfillment for yourself by simply participating.

Movie theaters have a ton of new movies out this time of the year and you might find one or several that might stimulate your imagination at this time of the year.

You could take the whole neighborhood sledding or ice skating for an afternoon followed by some hot chocolate at the end of the outing. Just the laughter of children picks the spirits up of people when they are down.

Go on a drive to see all the snow covered sights in your area. If you have ski resorts near, spend an afternoon watching all the people skiing and snowboarding.

Just because the weather is in a funk doesn’t mean you need to be part of it too. Your imagination is the best weapon to keeping yourself from experiencing the weather funk. Be creative, make things happen for you and yours and you will find that the Christmas time blahs will disappear just as the weather will change.

Remember, tomorrow is another day and you make it the way you want it to be. Don’t let it control you; you control it.       

Larry Wilson is a 50-year resident of Sparks and a retired elementary school teacher. You can contact him at lawilson16@aol.com.