You can tell by my brain chemistry that it's late March. It is easy for me to look around and appreciate so much of what's going on during this season - sugaring, warmer days, more sunshine, talk of gardening - but man this time of year is hard for me. I wrote the list below as part of a writing workshop I'm taking and someone commented, “This is delightful!” immediately followed by “…maybe it wasn't meant to be delightful?" My intention when writing it was to put down what I really needed to remind myself of. Let's call it delightfully honest.

How to survive March in Vermont

Rebrand it as Sugaring Season. This makes it sound exciting and special. Maybe folks in other states won’t know what you’re talking about and will wonder what they’re missing. What is this exotic thing they do in New England in March?
Buy yourself grocery store flowers. Things grown far far away that are full of color - oranges, pinks, and greens! You haven’t seen those colors locally in about five months so bring it in.
Wear a nice scent, particularly if it’s botanical and reminds you that things will once again grow.
Make lots of hot food. The weather will likely be hovering around 30s 40s and you won’t be able to go outside without getting wet. Warm yourself up from the inside out.
Take very hot showers.
Get a pair of mud rain boots that you feel cute in. You’re gonna be wearing them for weeks on end.
Wear fun colors. Grey? What grey? We’re leaning into bright blues and greens. This is the season for rainbow and bold patterns. Florals for spring? Groundbreaking in Vermont, that’s for damn sure.
Eat chocolate.
Move your body outside. The idea of it may seem atrocious depending on what's falling from the sky, but you’ll feel better afterward. Type B fun?
Wear bronzer. Yes, you are deathly pale at this point, but you can trick yourself into believing you’ve been outside in the sun when you catch yourself in the mirror.
Keep taking your antidepressants. They’re doing their best, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.
If the sun comes out, for the love of God, go outside and turn your face toward it for as long as possible.
Make art. It’s okay if it’s shitty, it’s okay if it’s never complete. Preference goes to things that are not monetized and are not for sharing on social media.
Crank up the music. Bonus points if it’s danceable.
Just keep going. April’s on its way.