Awe-Spotting My Way Through the Anticyclonic Gloom
It’s been oppressively grey in the UK lately. The kind of grey that makes you want to stay in bed (if only). It was so grey the news outlets reported on it. Apparently, it’s called anticyclonic gloom, and it’s created by a high-pressure system that traps moisture near to the Earth’s surface, causing heavy grey skies that (in my experience) lead to heavy, grey moods.
But this morning the sun appeared, so low and bright I could barely see while driving the kids to school. The autumn leaves are glowing, the sun shafts are dazzling, and my body is opening up like a freshly bloomed sunflower to drink in the much missed warmth.
Has my overwhelm disappeared with the sunshine? No. I’m still too tired. It still feels like I’ve got more things to do than time to do them. But the appearance of the sun has fortified me enough to feel a spark of appreciation for the small moments of awe that appear in my day: the look of excitement on my dog’s face as I pick up her lead (don’t worry, I don’t do this to just to tease her, we did go for a walk); an unexpected ‘I love you’ from one of the kids; a heart shape that appeared on the glass of the wood-burner as its flames flickered last night; a beautiful tree in my garden which is holding onto its bright red leaves in defiance of the shedding trees around it; and a beautiful bird of prey hanging out on the local cricket pitch this morning that delighted me with the spectacle of its wing span as it took off in search of something tastier than worms.
Such small moments present themselves every day, and allowing myself to notice them pierces the shroud of tiredness enveloping me, and reminds me that this too will pass. Just writing that last sentence, I’ve let out a breath I didn’t even realise I was holding, as my body softens into the truth of those words: just like the anticyclonic gloom, this heaviness will pass.
My husband told me it’s World Diabetes day today and sent me this video, which I found very inspiring. What an amazing young man. His diagnosis story is very similar to my son’s, so it struck a chord with me.
Well said as usual. Some days I'm right there with you, more to do than energy. Then light shines and I'm back. Awe has a lot to do with it, thank goodness we find awe, eh?
Oh I do love your writing style, Rae! First off, that’s a great title and initially I thought you’d dreamed up the “anticyclonic gloom” term. It sounded like your fun and humorous creativity. Secondly, this was the very first thing I read when I opened my eyes, still in bed, and it’s just so uplifting, positive, encouraging and the kind of practice I absolutely love.. awe-spotting. So thank you for this gift today. Delighted that you included the little clip of your wood stove and love note from the Universe and also the very inspiring story of the footballer. And I loved and could feel the joy in each moment of awe you shared. Hope there are many more for you! Meanwhile I’m up and off, excited to find my own, thanks to you! Sending love, Mel xoxo