The November Blues arrive quietly each year, carried in on the gray overcast skies that settle over us at 42° north. As the sun retreats and the days shorten, I’m reminded once again of the cyclical nature of life—light giving way to darkness and then, slowly, returning.
Over the years, I’ve learned a few ways to head off the seasonal dip in energy and mood (those familiar SADs—Seasonal Affective Disorders). First, I increase my Vitamin D3 to compensate for the loss of sunlight. Then comes the “blue light” on my desk, which helps reset my circadian rhythm when the natural signals go missing. And, of course, I allow myself a bit more sleep as I wait patiently for the light to return. Only five more months until spring, I remind myself.
This season also nudges me to ask a different question—not “Why is this happening?” but “What’s good about this?” That shift alone brings a surprising amount of perspective.
Daily walks help, too. This year, we’ve been blessed with stretches of blue sky and unseasonably warm temperatures. Each afternoon, I take long walks through our historic district neighborhood. Getting outdoors makes all the difference—not just for my physical health, but for my mental well-being.
So, as I settle in and wait for that first significant snowfall, I ask again: What’s good about this? What is life trying to teach me now? And yes—I ask ChatGPT, What is it I should learn next?
Book Recommendations:
The Thinking Machine by Stephen Witt
Witt’s biography of Jensen Huang—along with the rise of NVIDIA and the evolution of the microchip—is one of the most compelling tech narratives of the past decade. It traces the shift from CPUs (central processing units) to GPUs (graphics processing units), from linear to parallel processing, and from traditional data centers to today’s AI “compute factories.” These facilities aren’t just storing data—they’re converting data into intelligence. Machines once amplified our muscles; AI now amplifies our minds. We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. The next few years are going to be fascinating.
Break Shot by James Taylor (Audible Original)
In this audio autobiography, James Taylor reflects on a childhood of privilege contrasted with personal turmoil, the discovery of music, and his early struggles with addiction, mental health, and loss. As he traces his journey from adolescence to artistry, we see how his life experiences shaped the music that shaped us. Inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Taylor remains a cultural touchstone—and Break Shot offers a deeply personal window into the life behind the voice.