SAD

Seasonal Depression: also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's not fun. Less light in the day and colder temps trigger this nasty little demon. Summer means higher temps and longer days and not so much baggage to wear. The image below symbolizes my bout with this condition. It was taken during the Space Shuttle Columbia's final mission. The sunset from space cuts a longitudinal line across the African continent. In the darkness there are hints of life by distant lights. Even in darkness there is life. What's really interesting is that I've always been a night person. I love dark things, staying up late. In fact, I am usually more productive at night. But that doesn't change my dependency on light. It's the balance that's lost in the winter.

Looking at the Sahara I am reminded of my interest in geography as a kid. The peaks and valleys and texture of the topography held my interest. I was always more interested in where the rivers ran than where the political borders were. Sometimes one dictated the other. An image by Yann Arthus Bertrand can better explain this fixation.

As humans we generally need time to recharge our batteries, to regain our balance amidst the peaks and valleys of life. It's the time in which we are centered and regain focus of our identity. We wipe the smudges from our cultural lenses. In fact, while recharging we sometimes take those lenses off in order to get centered. Some humans choose to recharge in groups. Others choose to recharge alone.

Those who recharge in groups do so by extracting energy from others in the group, thus facilitating a cyclical behavior that resembles a sort of social codependency. This behavior represents a soul in search of the norm or status quo, a force that provides comfort and solace to one detached from independent thought and creativity.

Those who recharge alone provide stability for others in group situations, the borders of the tables, so to speak. This behavior represents the creative, homesick souls.