I was born, raised, and aged in Northeastern Ohio, USA.
My small hometown is situated on the shores of Lake Erie.
Winters were long and hard. If you’ve ever driven in Lake Effect Snow, you understand.
Warm, reasonably dry summers lasted about two months of the year. I had a SAD lamp (light therapy) that I used every single morning. It was supposed to help with mood since the long, dark winters were blamed for my bouts of depression.
Just writing this out is depressing!
Forty-eight years of that life-style was enough.

We upended our lives, sold our home and almost all of our possessions, invited my three sons to join us (within two years, all of them did), and left for Southeast Florida in 2005. Best decision of my entire life.

This climate is perfect for me! The heat and humidity soothe my body every day. It took years to shed that feeling of, “hurry up, soak up the sunshine because it might be gone tomorrow.” The ocean breeze lifts my spirit as nothing else can, except maybe its refreshing saltwater and powdery sand between my toes.

I am so thankful that we were brave enough to give up everything we knew and follow that dream. This tropical climate blesses us every single day of our lives.

I so totally get you pkr. These feelings are overwhelming and you are right- it is all too much.
To find a moment of reprieve, I’ve had to block out most everything in big chunks of time, focusing on one small bit of something.
My lemon tree has fragrant flowers right now. I will go outside and stand beside the tree and breathe deeply through my nose, allowing no thoughts to bombard me, concentrating on the fragrance.
And then I realize, I am “present” in this very moment with no one and no thing allowed in. It becomes a moment of Peace.

I think there might be something to your answer, Mica! I listened to a podcast about handling anger and the answer was quite similar- they suggested to apply a number to the volume of anger you feel in a moment and then multiply that. (i.e. you feel your anger level is at 4. Allow yourself to feel that anger at 8.) They say that suddenly your anger will dissipate Mica, I’m going to try your solution the next time a problem is overwhelming me- thank you. And thanks to Christine for bringing to light an area that causes most of us unease.

Oh, Elizabeth- I’ve had a fantastic life (so far!). I have three grown sons, all married to wonderful girls, and my oldest has twin babies! I am married (third time is the charm) to a man with a good heart and soul. We have most of the types of hobbies and get the most joy from similar things. We live in a climate we love and have created businesses that allow us to do the kind of work we are best at. Perhaps I should have read everyone’s thoughts here before I commented. I might have thought more deeply before I answered, although what I spoke of is truly what I regret. But if changing that would have changed where I am right this moment in life, then I guess I’d have to agree to not wanting to live any day over again! Thanks for your kind comment!