Alison Ryan
she/her
Seasonal Sadness
The world moves at a fast pace, encouraging us to push away grief and personal struggles. In winter, as the days grow shorter and the air turns colder, mental health can often mirror the shift toward bleakness. Nature offers a powerful reminder: a fallow field, when left to rest, emerges renewed; trees protect their buds through winter, preserving their energy until spring. These quiet cycles show us that not every season in life is meant to be bright or busy. Winter carries its own strengths as a time for recovery and reflection.
By drawing on Scandinavian influences and the practice of mindfulness, we can cultivate acceptance and appreciation for life’s darker seasons. This project provides a toolkit for children to develop an appreciation for the small joys of winter, while also inviting adults to accept the dark and heavy times–the cycles, and winters, of life.
Combat SAD with GLAD– Grow, Learn, Act, Dare
Teaching resource for 3rd to 5th class
Talking cards
Mindfulness tokens
Personal accounts of struggles
An Instagram page with gentle and uplifting tools