The fall time change and the early morning frost on my car windshield are harsh reminders that I have officially entered the long season of dark skies.

I drive to work and home in the dark. I am a person who thrives on sunshine, so I don’t go willingly into this season.

There is a disorder that many of us struggle with during the winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression often associated with the darkness of our skies in the winter.

The heavy gray clouds, freezing cold temperatures and sluggish energy causes me to have less desire to be active. This darkness can seep into our spirits.

To be positive in this season, I determined years ago to be intentional in my thoughts and interactions with others. It is much easier to bring joy into the lives of others and myself when I am surrounded by that beautiful transparent blue of the sky and feel the warmth of the sunshine on my shoulders. But the winter season takes extra work.

I enlist the help of family and close friends as part of my action plan to get through winter.

We found an idea in a home magazine that I fell in love with. From this example, my daughter, Hope, created a display that I have outside my office door. It is a peg board with small, simple, but beautifully-decorated paper houses.

There is one house for every day of November leading up to my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. Inside each little house is a card with a question or comment that asks for a response. All of the comments are meant to cause the reader to consider something positive about their life and to write that response on the card.

Every morning, I open one of the houses and display the response card. I start my day deliberately reflecting on specific joys in my life for which I am thankful.

Throughout the day, with my office door open, passersby stop, read the card, write their own comments and read the writings of others. I get to hear their laughter and discussion of memories or simple recognitions of the positives of life they get to enjoy.

People of all ages and walks of life stop to enjoy this simply display and it intentionally draws their thoughts to hopeful, happy contemplations.

It’s true that we exude the emotional energy we carry with us. If I am feeling depressed, anxious or overly worried about something, it causes those around me to feel the same way.

That’s why we must be aware of the negative thoughts and people around us. We must purposefully and methodically seek the positives.

The language we use, the words that come from our mouths really do matter. If I want to be a person of positive influence it doesn’t begin with social status, awards and accolades.

The influence I have on others is dependent on what I choose to focus upon. Will I be a blessing or a curse to those around me? I get to choose.

Nora Swango Stanger, a Lawrence County native and Appalachian outreach coordinator for Sinclair Community College, can be reached at norastanger@gmail.com.