I’ve discovered yet another benefit to being retired; lots of time to watch the Olympics! I’ve never been an avid sports fan but loose connections to a couple of Canada’s athletes has me glued to the television for the events that they’re involved in.

Veteran speed skater, Kristina Groves, is our daughter-in-law Robin’s cousin. We’ve only met her once when we had Thanksgiving dinner together at Robin’s parents’ home in Richmond last fall but we watched with great excitement when she took bronze in the 3000 m on Sunday afternoon and finished fourth, just 6/100ths of a second behind the bronze medalist, in yesterday’s 1000 m. She has three events left. We’ll be cheering her on in the 1500 m on Sunday, the 5000 m next Wednesday and finally, the team pursuit a week from tomorrow.

As well as anticipating more than one medal for Kristina, we hope to see Kevin Martin, skip of the Canadian men’s curling team, lead them to a gold medal win. Though he’s made his home in Edmonton for many years, Kevin grew up and went to school here. We’ve met him at various community events over the years and are well acquainted with his parents and many other relatives. I’ve watched four of the five round robin games that he’s played so far. At this point, he’s undefeated but he faces a key challenge tomorrow when he takes on defending world champion David Murdoch of Great Britain who has beat him four times in a row. Hopefully we can cheer him on to a victory this time.

Though women’s curling doesn’t hold quite the same interest for me, I did enjoy watching Canada vs Japan. Our Canadian gals didn’t play particularly well but they managed to pull it out in the last end. I’ve also watched some downhill skiing and some snowboarding and when I watched South Korean, Mo Tae-bum, win gold in the men’s 500 m speed skate, it brought back memories of being in Seoul during the last summer Olympics. (See my post August 24, 2008)

I’m definitely not a hockey fan but immediately following Kristina’s skate on Sunday afternoon, I’ll be tuning in to the Canada vs US game. While I’ll try to follow the play, I’ll be most attentive when the cameras scan the crowd. Our son, Matt, who turns 30 that day will be there but what I’ll really be looking for will be our grandson, Sam, in his Canada jersey!

I’ve long been aware that the January blues that I wrote about last week are symptoms of SAD, seasonal affective disorder. SAD, sometimes known as winter depression, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms during the winter months. Brought on by lack of natural light, SAD is especially prevalent amongst those of us who live at northern latitudes. Like many SAD sufferers, I notice the symptoms most during long stretches of cloudy weather such as we have been experiencing lately.

According to the Mayo Clinic website which I trust for all things medical, symptoms may include:

• Depression
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Social withdrawal
• Oversleeping
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating and processing information

Compared to many, I suffer from a relatively mild case of SAD but I can definitely identify with many of the above. At times like this, I feel grumpy and pessimistic, sometimes even anxious. One of the advantages of retirement is the fact that I don’t have to rise before the sun but, even so, getting up in the morning is a chore; even more so than the rest of the year! When I feel this way I lack the energy or the desire to accomplish very much and I’m sure I’m not a lot of fun to live with! I definitely crave high carb foods, especially chocolate and yes, I tend to gain a few pounds over the winter months.

Though it’s hard to convince yourself to exercise when you’re feeling this way, it does help alleviate the stress and anxiety of SAD and hopefully keeps those pounds from piling on. Knowing this keeps me lifting weights three times a week even when it seems to be more effort than it’s worth. Exercising outdoors is especially helpful. Even on cloudy days, exposure to some natural light is better than hiding away indoors. That’s why cross country skiing has been so beneficial for me.

If my symptoms were more extreme or if they lasted for longer periods of time, I would definitely consider investing in the specialized lights that mimic outdoor light and provide relief for many sufferers. At this point, I haven’t found that necessary. Simply knowing what it is that ails me and realizing that it’s temporary helps get me through the rough spots. I know that one of these days, the sun will break through and as I soak up its rays, I will literally feel myself recharge. It is a most amazing feeling!