Zen, I was just remarking to the missus how dark it was, at 5 pm! I am in the Banana belt here in Canada, along Lake Ontario. I can't recall if you are in the same part of the world, or maybe in Edmonton, a thousand miles north of me? Now THEY have winter!
The challenge for me is to keep busy during these three darkest months of the year. Today I took a shut in, a lovely 94 yr old lady out for lunch. I will be headed out tonight to direct a men's barbershop chorus for our weekly rehearsal. Tomorrow, it's guitar building day. And so it goes for me.
Try saying yes to each opportunity to get and stay busy, Zen. Giving to others, and pursuing things that require and create mastery are good ideas. Soon it will be daffodils and robins again. And through all of what life passes along to us, we remain solidly and resolutely sober. That is a treasure of our own design and labour, something that is uniquely ours and which can never be taken from us.
Hang in there, and ever onward!