Each month in the Potluck newsletter, Talia Lin answers your most pressing questions in her advice column, Talia's Takes, and we thought we'd give you a look at one of her recent columns here. If you'd like to receive Talia's advice in your inbox each month, please sign up for the Potluck, our membership program. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how we do things and you'll get to influence the content we make.
Now, on to Talia's Takes!
Question: “How to deal with the sadness from missing the summertime Southern heat?”
I find this to be a very interesting question. Let’s dissect it. You didn’t ask how to deal with missing Southern heat. You specified, “summertime Southern heat.” And the “sadness” that accompanies that. Let me try to wrap my mind around being sad that it’s not 97 degrees with 92% humidity all day, every day, with my poor AC unit, who’s been on her last leg the past 2 summers, struggle bussing through the night because even when it was pitch black outside it only went down to 83 degrees... This will be an exercise in suspension of disbelief for me.
As someone who is clearly so very thankful for the time of year when it finally starts to cool off, I imagine it would take quite a lot for me to miss the summertime heat. It’s always nice when it starts, but then it lingers about 2 months more than necessary. I will acknowledge though, that I’ve never spent too long away from it. Even when I briefly ventured north-ish (barely past Kentucky and for less than a year so we don’t need to talk about it) and I had to deal with snow for the first time in my life -- it was still a relief to not be constantly sweating. Granted, I was young enough at the time to find the thought of slipping on ice more embarrassing than dangerous. Times have changed.
An obvious solution is to attempt to cheer yourself up. Distractions often work well for me. Not to ignore the sadness of course, but to redirect our focus. Try revisiting a beloved book or TV show. Watch funny videos about adorable and unlikely animal friendships. Treat yourself to a favorite snacky-snack. I personally find it difficult to feel down while saying the word "bubbles". Especially if you do it in a silly voice. Bonus points for putting on a fun costume and dancing around your living room to upbeat music. Sing along! If you’re snacking, please don’t choke.
If none of that worked, we can try attacking this issue from another angle.
A fantastic way to stop missing something is to find gratefulness for what you have in this exact moment. Balance is always important, right? So let’s try an experiment.
Put on as much clothing as you can. Not just tops. All of it. Socks, hats, scarves, underoos -- if you’ve got it, throw it on! Then crank that heater all the way up. Invest in several humidifiers, place them strategically throughout your abode, and find a sunny window spot to bask in like a cat. Once you start to perspire, put another layer on. Things should be quickly escalating from comfortably warm to a sweltering sticky heat. You may be second-guessing the choices you’ve made up to this point. "Why are you even doing this experiment? Was it really a wise decision to take life advice from some random actor who does sketch comedy on the internet? She isn’t even a real professional. This was a horrible idea."
Read more: Check out Talia's Takes, our new advice column
Wait just a doggone minute! You can now pour yourself a nice big glass of sweet tea. We aren’t heathens. Don’t stand in front of that fridge for too long though; we’re still in the middle of science. Once all the ice in your glass has melted and your 11 sweaters have all been... well, sweat through -- go bake yourself a casserole. Is it done? Great! Don’t close that oven door! Turn it off, of course, we’re not trying to burn anything down. Just leave it open until all that baking air has dissipated into your kitchen. It is possible you’re now experiencing a full-blown panic about how on earth you’re going to manage to peel yourself out of the 17 human-soup-drenched layers you’ve trapped yourself in. Perhaps you’re contemplating going full Hulk to escape the stifling swamp you’ve created for yourself. This is the time to finally take one step outside your door. Just for a moment. Long enough to take a deep breath of brisk, fresh air and feel the wind stir against your face.
Doesn’t that feel nice? Are we maybe, just maybe, feeling the teensiest bit of gratitude for a break? A change? The opportunity to appreciate something new? A simple way to nurture love for the environment you’re in, is to recognize what it could be like to not have it all. You are expanding your capacity to love! I’m so proud of you.
That’s my take on this anyway,
Talia
P.S. If you’re missing the summertime Southern heat because you’re currently stuck in Alaska, I do understand, and I’m sorry. Sounds like it’s time to plan a visit! In late July or early August? But if you’re still here and just missing the warmth because it’s currently the singular month we get of winter, I’m going to need you to suck it up.
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