Chasing Away the “Winter Blues”

Up until about fifteen years ago, it was a yearly occurrence! Around early November, my mood would plummet. I would feel gloomy, hopeless, and irritable—in other words, far from being the sunshine in the house. It was a torment for my wife and many others. This changed rapidly during our first winter on Fuerteventura. Having ended up there almost by chance (see my first piece), the sun and warmth provided me with enough “fuel” to get through the rest of the winter. Now that we spend winters in Fuerteventura, it’s no longer a problem, and I hardly know any other way to spend winter than in Fuerteventura, where it’s often around 25 degrees with pleasant sunshine by Christmas. It’s quite a unique feeling. 

Privileged

I almost forgot how it was before our time in Fuerteventura, until I suddenly had to return to the Netherlands in the first week of November. Dark days, bad weather, and less time outdoors. I found myself feeling a bit like I used to. In a way, it was a “wake-up call.” I was suddenly reminded that I am very privileged to be able to spend winters on the “island of eternal spring.” Fuerteventura is closer to the Equator, meaning it has daylight from 7:15 AM to 6:05 PM, while in the Netherlands, it’s only from 7:50 AM to 4:50 PM. I hope this piece brings joy to those, like me, who want to avoid the winter blues or, even better, throw them out with the trash. Trust me, you’ll feel better for it!

Frans 🌞