I've been feeling under the weather nearly all winter. Profits in 2013 were less than hoped. The 2014 cash flow is tight. My pipes froze so we have a hose running across the driveway. My treadmill stops unexpectedly while I use it. The list goes on and on. If I know the sun is shining today, but there's still snow on the ground, everything is a muddy mess, and spring is still in the distant horizon. My energy levels are still low. I could spend all day in bed, warm under the blankets.
I thought I was the only one who was feeling so blah, but another farmer told me he's worried about his depression. As I sat with a group of farmers, I found out everyone was feeling the same way. One farmer even went to his doctor because his energy levels were so low. We've even questioned "Do we have mono?" in my house. Instead of having those great, productive work days, everyone is just shuffling through, pushing papers around the desk, and waiting for the chance to crawl back into bed.
It's true that misery loves company. I felt quite a bit better hearing that everyone else was suffering from the same symptoms I had. I'm not a doctor, but I do believe all of us suffered from some depression this winter. The weather was miserable, and after some boom years in farming, we're having to adjust back to reality. Unfortunately, income levels had adjusted faster than expense levels, so we're in a tight squeeze for a little while.
I don't have a solution to the low energy and depression that myself, and maybe you, are experiencing. I'm just going to have faith that it will all end as soon as I can finally go for a walk outdoors, and take some machinery out of the shed. Even higher prices would help (hint hint markets).
Just know you're not alone.
I thought I was the only one who was feeling so blah, but another farmer told me he's worried about his depression. As I sat with a group of farmers, I found out everyone was feeling the same way. One farmer even went to his doctor because his energy levels were so low. We've even questioned "Do we have mono?" in my house. Instead of having those great, productive work days, everyone is just shuffling through, pushing papers around the desk, and waiting for the chance to crawl back into bed.
It's true that misery loves company. I felt quite a bit better hearing that everyone else was suffering from the same symptoms I had. I'm not a doctor, but I do believe all of us suffered from some depression this winter. The weather was miserable, and after some boom years in farming, we're having to adjust back to reality. Unfortunately, income levels had adjusted faster than expense levels, so we're in a tight squeeze for a little while.
I don't have a solution to the low energy and depression that myself, and maybe you, are experiencing. I'm just going to have faith that it will all end as soon as I can finally go for a walk outdoors, and take some machinery out of the shed. Even higher prices would help (hint hint markets).
Just know you're not alone.
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