Published January 15, 2006 in the Hibbing Daily Tribune
By Aaron J. Brown
For the past few weeks the sun has shunned northern Minnesota. A few rays peeked through last week, but mostly we’ve been staring at the underside of clouds. At first this was merely a subject for the inane banter of TV weathercasters, but later became the inane banter of TV newscasters. Now it’s become the inane banter of almost everyone. Why? This lack of sun prompts a condition with an apt acronym, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
People have been commenting on SAD a lot. A lack of sun can create symptoms of depression in some people. It’s a real psychological condition. Its name is SAD, not HAPPY (which involves the liquefaction of internal organs and visions of the future, and is something else entirely).
I get it, OK. You don’t have to tell me about SAD. I’m sorry if this seems grumpy on my part. It’s a little like having an organized army of mutant monkeys surround, attack and occupy your town and then having news outlets report, “Area residents report depression amid monkey junta.” We all know when the sun is out.
Sorry to take such a harsh tone. It’s the SAD. Maybe you’ve encountered people blaming things on SAD in recent weeks. “Sorry I yelled, I’ve got SAD.” “Sorry I’m not contributing much at this meeting, I’ve got SAD.” “Surry my kolumm is fool of tie-poes, eye half SAD.”
I’m not here to discredit SAD. It’s real. Sun good. Unremitting darkness bad. I only wonder just how far someone could push the “I’ve got SAD” excuse. Does SAD evaporate the moment the sun appears, or does it linger in your mood like pneumonia hangs in your lungs. “Cough, cough. I’ve got the SAD. I’ve got the SAD real bad.”
I don’t know exactly how big SAD is. Research might produce an answer, but in a race between my doing research and the sun just showing up one day, I’m betting on the hot gassy orb (meaning the sun).
In his dying words, German author and thinker Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called for “more light!” For those who rely on sight, light is the only currency. It pushes us out of bed and off to work, and in setting sends us back home. Arctic residents know that the endless winter nights tug at one’s soul.
Von Goethe knew a thing or two about light. His scientific writing on how light affects the visible spectrum of color was groundbreaking. His last words provide an interesting contrast to another quote attributed to him: “Where there is much light, the shadows are deepest.”
So, look at the bright side. Have you seen any shadows lately? Nope. Conversely, if you turn around suddenly and see a nondescript human figure mimicking your every move, you’ve got other problems.
QUICK SIDENOTE: In my online von Goethe reading, I learned that the scientific mnemonic device “ROY G. BIV” is no longer an accurate way to remember the colors of the spectrum. Indeed, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet are still official members of the “spec” as insiders call it. However, indigo has been blackballed, or more accurately, blueish-purpleballed. In addition to making science tests a little harder for the youth of America, the rock band “Indigo Girls” is now reportedly unable to find steady work. (Agent: “No, they won’t open for the Yoopers. They used to be in the spectrum!”)
OK, that sidenote wasn’t so quick. I blame SAD.
By the time you read this we might be awash in light. That’s usually how it goes when I write about weather. But early January was a good reminder of how a little thing like natural sunlight can make a big difference in the quality of your day. Here’s hoping happy days help you keep down the SAD.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune.