Be Active

It is that time of the year again. People are back to school/work and back to stress, depression, and, for some of us, that means seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other psychosomatic illnesses. According to Canadian Mental Health Association, up to 750'000 Canadians experience just the symptoms of SAD.

Blame society, food, environmental conditions, work conditions, lack of sunlight, blame whatever you want, blaming gets you nowhere. And do not get me wrong, I am all for improving society and environment, but autumn is here now and your health is in your hands, so why not do the best you can to help yourself and do something with immediate results? The key to physical and mental health is being active. Here's a quote by Rose Tan from the article by Vera Held on that issue published in Toronto Star: "Don't be a mole and burrow. Get out and stay active. Even a 10-minute walk at lunch can make a difference". Yes, antidepressant drugs change your mood, but keep in mind that the difference between artificial and natural medicine is that artificial has side effects and natural does not. On the contrary, active life can help to cure seemingly unrelated illnesses, for example, it improves immune system.

Executives of the ASFSR club will do their best to provide activities for the year around. Just remember that it is not the circumstances and not any particular events that change things, it is your intention that does so.

© Tearslake 2003. Based on Vera N. Held article "Shorter days dim worker productivity" in Toronto Star for October 11, 2003, section "Business", page C14.