My new happy light. Note: this picture was taken around 3pm. It felt like it was 7pm all day.

Scratch that about fall being here. We’re in full-blown winter.

I woke up to snow/ice warnings (when getting dressed for work, I really wanted to choose option B: PJs).

The sun didn’t come out today.

And I found myself surrounded by grey and cold, right where I was last year–although this craziness didn’t start until November last year.

Luckily, I am more than prepared.

I started taking 5-HTP 2 days ago.

On my priority scale, my lunchtime walks shot up from very important to mandatory.

I’m attending yoga class at least once a week.

I have a new workout regimen for the next 6 weeks to keep me focused.

And, I finally pulled the trigger on buying a happy light (thanks for the amazing suggestion, Mara!).

And it arrived today!

As with 5-HTP, it seems like this little bulb of joy will take about a week until I get the full effects.

The prescribed use? Up to 2 hours a day at a distance no farther than 40 cm, with periods of looking directly into the light.

I’m so ready to be a human experiment this fall. And damned if I won’t be happy about it!