Satisfied - Part 2

The Gift of Good Weather

Like I mentioned, I've been in a low season. This dismal emotional state is often accompanied by physical ailments. The worst: the dreaded headache. I have suffered from regular headaches for forever, with the exception of my year living in St. Stephen, New Brunswick a couple years ago. I only got two headaches that whole year, and they occurred during a pretty painful throat infection. 

But that's not the only interesting thing about the East Coast. My year there was the single longest span of time I have been completely free from depression. (My use of the word depression is to mean a state of internal sadness, unprompted by external circumstances that effects energy, motivation, productivity, appetite for things I would regularly enjoy, etc.). 

Now, I would love to attribute that time of happiness to my awesome friends at SSU (St. Stephen's University) and all the laughing we did. Or I could direct my thanks to the purpose and enjoyment I felt as I learned in a university environment. Or I could chalk it up to the regular routine I fell into. For nostalgia, here are some pictures that highlight SSU fun. 

Halloween. I'm the sock. 

Performing with Moriah and Madi

You probably wouldn't believe me if I tried to convince you that the folks in this picture are actually quite a handsome bunch... Gotta fund some type of entertainment in a small town I guess.  

I could give credit to any of these things, and although I acknowledge each one certainly contributed, I suspect it was something else: Atmospheric pressure. 

Now you think I'm a total loon. But seriously, almost as soon as I returned home to Ottawa, the heaviness came back, even though it was during the most exciting time of my life: getting married to my best friend. I'll admit, I haven't done any research save a few google searches, but ever since, I've been suspicious about the effects of atmospheric, or barometric pressure, on my emotions and my noggin.

For example, last week, I had a headache every day from Tuesday to Friday (accompanied by a stomach bug and relentless pregnancy heartburn). I was also feeling sad. Then, Saturday came like a breath of fresh air. First, I was served breakfast in bed from my hubby and as I woke up, I realized my headache was finally gone. Then, I felt like a coffee. So we trod purposefully down the hill to Tim Hortons (the only coffee I like these days - don't hate me Bridgehead bodum buddies). As soon as I walked outside, I came alive. The air was cool and the sun was warm –  a welcome relief from the hot and humid summer we've been having. I practically skipped the whole way. I kept telling Stevie "I love this, and this and this!" and "I'm feeling happy!" I felt like her. 


So Stevie and I went to "our spot". It's a secret place (of government owned land, open to the public) near our house where you can stand over the locks on the Rideau River, fish, watch ducks, have a picnic, dock your boat, and watch planes take off and land right over your head. I was happy.

Later, I decided to do a little research. I learned that a standard atmospheric pressure is defined as being equal to 101.325 kPa. Guess what the reading was for this happy day on theweathernetwork.com? Yup, 101.32 kPa! So I've decided to begin to record the pressure each day, along with symptoms I might have. Just a little experiment. Anyone know anything else about this? I'm open to hearing more (unless you have proof that there is no correlation between the two - then, I'm not open :) ).

And of course, all good things come from above. I think the standard pressure that day was a gift from God. He knows the desires of my heart and he knows when my soul is downcast. I'm convinced that he is behind the smallest details and the biggest blessings, even as big as the weather.