Monday, January 6th, 2014, is apparently the most depressing day of the year. So what are we going to do about it? Grumble? Give in? Bemoan the blueness of it all? The day after Blue Monday we woke up, and, just like that, a new day of sunshine sparkling on snow dawned (beautiful, but really, really cold). The truth is that bad days, just like good days zip by quickly, and though today might be hard, tomorrow it will no longer be the most depressing day of the year. So let’s acknowledge that Blue Mondays just happen – media-promoted or not, because the good news is, friend – it’s all going up from here.

When I was 11 years old, I had a paper route. Also, I lived in a temperate rainforest. This meant that all rainy, wet, soggy winter long I walked and walked and walked with a heavy, grubby sack of newspaper across my shoulder. And one day as I trudged in the damp drizzle, an epiphany beyond my decade of experience struck. Clear as anything I realized deep in my soul that as surely as God provides sunshine, He provides rain. I couldn’t thank Him for one and reject the other. The strangest, most wonderful thing happened at that moment – something I will never forget. This revelation transformed grumbling to joy. Purpose. The rain was okay, because it wasn’t forever, and it wasn’t for nothing.

And the truth is, life is just like that. Sometimes, in the midst of snowstorms and vacations ending, we have an unplanned perfect day (indulge me while I shout a bit? Sunday gave me more than TWO HOURS of therapeutic craft time ALONE, supper made by dear hubster, and the season premiere of Downton Abbey – and I was almost giddy with the gloriousness of it all – other mamas of tinies understand what I’m talking about). And sometimes, it’s not glorious at all. The snowstorm hits, the power goes out, everything else just hits the fan, and you realize are the lead cowboy at the greased goat rodeo. (I write from which I have also lived.)

So, if you’re having a Blue Monday, that’s fine – it’s going to be okay. Because Sunshine Tuesday will be here in just a few short hours. And if your Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday resemble a soggy mess, hang on, because Friday’s coming, friend.

Ellen