Getting Old…

Lately I have been noticing that I don’t take pleasure in life’s simplicity as I used to. Remember the good ol’ days when we were innocent, carefree, and 4 feet tall? Back then at this time of year, I remember standing transfixed in front of my windows praying that the snow would fall down. Day after day I waited for the snow to fall because I thought it would be wonderful and magical to have a white Christmas. Unfortunately, the snowflakes never heard my cries of hope (except for that one year where it actually snowed on Christmas). This year things are different. It snowed in November. A month too early but that’s beside the point. What frightens me is that I would gladly stand in front of the windows that I was so accustomed to as a child and pray that not a snowflake falls to the ground again ! I say this because the snow (although beautiful to look at) hinders our everday routine from causing slippery sidewalks to freezing temperatures to road and traffic hazards. How is it possible for something that I used to value so much turn to something I almost despise?

Is it just me or do other people experience the same kind of attitude shift? Do we lose our innocence and demure as the years pass by? I can’t help but say we do. Sure an arguement can be made that we still find happiness in life’s simple pleasures such as bumping into old friends and visiting family members. But I think the reality is that as we grow older, we learn more and more each day that the world isn’t always a pretty place. The world can even be cruel sometimes.

“If you don’t expect anything…you won’t become disappointed.”

Until next time folks…good luck with finals (for those who were cursed with them). Happy Shopping!

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Lately I’ve noticed that my energy levels are somewhat depleted. I remember reading something about how the changing seasons each year had a direct potential impact on our mood and behaviour. Of course, I didn’t have the newspaper article anymore on hand but luckily with my good ol’ buddy Google, I managed to find some information on this disorder most commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD — pun intentional I suppose?)

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Some people suffer from symptoms of depression during the winter months, with symptoms subsiding during the spring and summer months. This may be a sign of SAD, which is a mood disorder associated with depression episodes and related to seasonal variations of light.

Symptoms Include:
1.  Regularly occurring symptoms of depression (excessive eating and sleeping, weight gain) during the fall or winter months.
2.  Full remission from depression occur in the spring and summer months.
3.  Symptoms have occurred in the past two years, with no nonseasonal depression episodes.
4.  Seasonal episodes substantially outnumber nonseasonal depression episodes.
5.  A craving for sugary and/or starchy foods.

Possible Cause of this Disorder
Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, has been linked to SAD. This hormone, which may cause symptoms of depression, is produced at increased levels in the dark. Therefore, when the days are shorter and darker the production of this hormone increases.

I can’t say for sure if my symptoms legitimately fall under this mood disorder. I mean most people would find it more depressing when the days are dark and rainy (as it often is in the autumn and winter times). Moreover, if we compare ourselves to other mammals, it makes sense that we eat more during these 2 seasons as well because the weather prompts us to eat, and to subsequently gain weight and retain more body heat. The extra sleep can also be explained because since the days are shorter and colder (less sunshine), are we not inclined to stay home more and cuddle up underneath some blankets?

So the big question to carry away with you is whether SAD is a real mood disorder or are we perhaps making it ‘real’ by scrutinizing our mood and behaviour too much that we fall under the fallacy of the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Bienvenue World.

Hello inspireME. Welcome to WordPress.com
This is your first entry.

Hello to you as well, WordPress.com
And yes, you are right. This is my very first entry. And as such, I am tempted to overexcite you with an extremely long blog on why I have decided to register. Well to make a long story short, WordPress is simply my gateway of choice for daily ramblings and the occasional “venting” blogs. I will endeavour to use this as often as I can, given the constraints of time and the limited amount of intelligent comments that I am subjected to.

So..FAQ for the new WordPress user:

Q: Who are you?
A: I am Darwin Lin and currently attending UBC Commerce with an intended focus on Accounting and HR. My birthday is on the 27th of May (send me gifts!) and I am a gemini. I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC to a typical chinese family. I live with my parents and my grandparents. My future goals involve getting my CA designation, having a Golden Retriever named Lucky, and being a good husband and/or dad (although that is getting ahead of myself).

Q: What are your interests/hobbies?
A: I enjoy a lot of things common to a typical young asian adult such as import cars, computer games, and pool. I absolutely love watching House MD on Global (Tuesdays at 9pm); I think it is the best show in the world. Some of my hobbies include playing the piano, graphic design, and reading a good book with a double latte by my side.

Q: What are some of your fears?
A: Heights. That’s definitely near the top. Disturbing images (i.e. the girl from the Grudge) also give me the chills. Recently though, I am scared of what the future is going to look like. The future scares the bejeebus out of me. OH, this might be a bit off-topic, but I hate studying and exams. Don’t get me wrong, I love learning but I learn better interactively rather than reading about concepts.

Q: Why did you choose inspireME as your username?
A: Simply because everyone — from the rich to the poor, from the dropouts to the educated, from the young to the old, and all those in between — needs to be inspired at least once in their lifetimes. It’s this uplifting feeling of security and hope. Inspiration guides you, it moves you. People live life more intensely than those who are uninspired. The world is a beautiful place when you are motivated to do things you deeply care about.