Wintertime Poses Many Threats

Photo by Kofler Jürgen

While in Alaska, some years ago, I noticed the deteriorating effect of the long, dark days on the Eskimos and on all of us living in Bethel.  With only 4 hours of daylight during the winter months, along with fierce, unrelenting cold, a heavy, depressing feeling would possess our spirits.  Personal disagreements increased and negative attitudes toward life escalated as the dark months wore on.

Life took on a grim look with few laughs and uplifting happenings.  For 9 months of the year, Bethel, the largest community in Western Alaska, has no outlet to the world except by jet plane.  Many tragic incidents took place in the personal lives and in the family circles of our people.  Cabin-fever, although not listed in the medical books, came to be a sickly reality in the lives of the people of Bethel, and in mine too.

We Chicagoans face a less fearful winter season of darkness and cold than the 6,300 residents of Bethel do.  Nonetheless, we come upon a time filled with possibilities of depression and pent-up feelings of tension and loneliness.  I encourage you to work diligently to bring light, laughter and relaxing diversions into your family life.  To start you thinking, I offer you a few suggestions on dealing with these real threats to your peace and spirit of joy.

Fill your homes with much light.  Turn on some extra lamps.  Brightness lessens the effect of the darkness.  However, at suppertime, try to use candles and soft light for the atmosphere.  A joyful dinner together helps the fight against loneliness.

Use bright, cheerful, lively music to lift up your spirits.  Phone your friends more often, especially the shut-ins.  Refuse to take out your “down feelings” on the rest of the family.   Support each other with “good nature kidding.”

Buy games that all the family can use together to build up a notion of togetherness and oneness.  When dispirited, get out of the house and walk through the local supermarkets and shopping malls.  Meet people.

Bring bright, even gaudy colors into your home.  I buy gaily colored bed sheets, cheap ones, and use them to cover my furniture and books shelves in all kinds of hues.

Fr. George Mc Kenna