Ever since the temperature dropped a few weeks ago, a horribly familiar phrase has crept back into our vernacular – ‘it is so cold.’

It should come as no surprise that at least one of those complaints comes from yours truly.

My father has said that fall ‘smells like decay,’ and as much as I don’t particularly like this sentiment, I’ve found it easier to concede the point this year.

For me, it has been a rather melancholy season, although a reason eludes me. All I can think about is that we won’t be seeing green again for many months.

As a general rule, I spend the time between October and April with a bad bout of seasonal depression, wondering why on earth I didn’t jump ship and head as far south as possible after high school graduation.

At this time of year, you’ll also notice the line at the coffee shop is just a tad bit longer, that fleece suddenly doesn’t seem like such a fashion faux pas and the weather becomes more volatile and unpredictable than usual.

But why is it that pumpkin pie sounds so much better in October than July? Or buying a new sweater or pair of mittens is so satisfying, even though we know it heralds the return of cold weather?

A friend presented me with an idea this past weekend which I found intriguing: Much of our perspective of things depends on how situations are presented to us.

While our conversation at the time concerned marketing, I think this observation could be applied to the coming months and perhaps serve as a balm for some of that seasonal angst we all know and loathe.

Fall is a season of hibernation and decay, but it’s that very same dead corn which makes up a corn maze. Halloween doesn’t seem as spooky without the skeletal, leafless trees.

We need the cold so it can snow, enabling people to ski, sled and wholly appreciate the joys of a warm fire and a hot drink.

Maybe a change in perspective is all that’s needed to make the next few months bearable. Or maybe we all just need to hibernate until April.