There's never a dull day in Weather

... or your life - you just need to open your eyes to the positivity!

Although I have touched upon the idea of appreciating the simple things in life in previous blogs, I feel it needs extra attention as it is such an important belief of mine, and provides the bedrock upon which this website is based.

In part, I suspect the weather has had an impact on my sub-concious beliefs. I live in the UK - where it's often cloudy, especially in the winter. A thick veil of cloud can give leaden skies for weeks on end - combined with the short days, weak sunlight and barren, uninspiring landscape, it can be quite depressing. It turns out Seasonal Affective Disorder affects 1 in 3 people in the UK. As with many countries in the northern latitudes, most people feel better when the sun is shining. It's certainly the same for me.

A typically dull winter's day in the UK, with a stratus deck painting the sky grey.

Because the winter can be quite grim, (and perhaps also because I'm a meteorologist and take more note of the weather than other people), I found myself looking towards other sources of positivity. Simple things really - especially as the winter half year has historically been a period of work, with few holidays.

Firstly, I take pleasure whenever the sun does shine, trying to get outside and enjoy the sun whenever possible. If it's expected to be a sunny day, I'll try to get outside for a walk, bike ride or run - today's a good example; it's expected to be sunny (writing this in the morning) and already I've been for an early morning walk to watch the sunrise - watching the sun rise on a new day is something I take great joy in. I start the day fresh and say to myself "what am I going to achieve today?" For me, watching the sun rise provides a mental reset from the previous day.

I make an effort to take pleasure in what I eat and drink. This does require some work - in meal planning, shopping and food preparation - and while I don't attest to being super-healthy, I believe the backbone of our relationship with food should be on home-cooked meals. They are healthier and much cheaper than eating out. Plus, you get the added benefit of really knowing what you're putting in your mouth. Entire cultures are built around food, while the global food and beverages industry was worth USD $9.2tn in 2024(!)

Food is clearly a big thing to enjoy. The average American spends nearly $2000 a year on eating out! But eating good food doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Learn how to budget, meal prep and create a shopping list. Then delgate an hour a day a few times a week to create delicious, restaurant quality food in your own kitchen! It's not difficult - just requiring effort - after all, anyone can follow a recipe!

Spending time with friends and family is also special - most of us lead busy lives which really limits the time available to spend with others. So cherish the moment and bring positivity wherever you go; your friends and family might have had a worse day than you. But above all, always be yourself. I find that people respect me more when I'm not trying to be someone else.

Keep a list of all the small things which you can take pleasure in, and consciously remind yourself to appreciate them whenever they happen. Over time, this will encourage you to enjoy those things subconsciously. For example, on my list we have:

• Watching the sun rise over distant hills first thing.

• Enjoying a delicious home-brewed cup of coffee in the morning.

• Taking a hike in the woods.

• Going for a run in the sunshine.

• A good book.

• A good night's sleep.

• Keeping fit and healthy.

• Great music/ great TV (I keep a list of TV shows I want to watch and work my way through it - this limits procrastination on trash TV shows).

• Enjoying my home cooking at dinner time, with the company of my significant other.

• Enjoying an interesting and intellectual conversation with my significant other.

• Watching seeds grow into saplings in my indoor planters (and then, in a few months, watching them grow further in my garden-turned-allotment).

• Keeping track of the weather observations from my newly-refurbished weather station.

I find that it's a positive feedback loop; the more I take pleasure in the small things, the more things I find to take pleasure in. This is a very positive way to live life!

Underlying all of this is my own health. Keeping fit gives me the physical (and mental) agility to enjoy these things. It is a little-known fact that regular exercise, especially aerobic exercise (running, swimming, cycling etc) improves brain function and cognition. Keeping fit stimulates brain activity and has a positive effect on mental performance - aside from the obvious physical benefits of course. This is an example of a win-win situation - there really is nothing to loose - and something which you can feel extra positive about while doing it!

By seeking out positivity in life, in what is free and what you already have, you negate the need to buy happiness. Filling your life with stuff is not the path to long-term happiness. In a way, appreciating the small things requires a paradigm shift away from most expecations of modern society. If you can find joy in everyday life, you won't need to wait for that expensive holiday every six months to be happy. You can be happy every day.