Well, we fell back. And apparently, so did my mood.

It’s barely afternoon and already looks like someone turned off the sun and forgot to pay the electric bill. The days are getting shorter, the skies are getting gloomier, and I’m beginning to feel less like a functioning adult and more like a squirrel preparing for a six-month hibernation.

I want to hoard things. Nuts. Snacks. Blankets. Possibly an unreasonable number of cookies. I’m not entirely sure what squirrels do all winter, but I’m beginning to understand the appeal.

Meanwhile, my brain has apparently relocated to somewhere warm. I’m daydreaming about sunshine, summer clothes, outdoor dining, and the general concept of not needing a jacket to walk to the car.

Psychologically, this is a lot to process. We lose an hour in the spring and complain. We gain an hour in the fall and somehow still complain. We are apparently impossible to please.

And don’t even get me started on the 4:30 p.m. sunset. Who decided that was acceptable? I have things to do. I have a personality. I would occasionally like to see daylight after work.

Maybe this is nature’s way of telling us to slow down, rest, and embrace the cozy season. Or maybe it’s just a giant cosmic reminder that we are solar-powered creatures who weren’t designed to live in perpetual gloom.

For now, I’ll be over here gathering my provisions, wearing something comfortable, and mentally booking a vacation somewhere with a beach.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my nest. Wake me when the sun comes back.