"So - how are you today?" My counsellor looked at me over the top of his glasses.

I squirmed in my seat, trying to make myself comfortable. The vinyl upholstery was new and stiff, and it squeaked every time I moved. "I feel like January," I said.

The counsellor frowned. "But it's September."

"I know. But you asked me how I felt. It's got nothing to do with the date or the time of year."

My counsellor scribbled something on his notepad. "Do you want to explain it to me?"

I sat back in my chair, lifting the front legs slightly off the office carpet before letting them drop again. "It's a state of mind. You know how you feel at Christmas? There's all the build-up and preparations. Then there's the big day itself. It makes you feel happy, with all the presents and food and drink. And that feeling lasts you all through the holiday, right through to New Year."

The counsellor nodded, encouraging me. "Yes. Go on."

"Then it's January, and you're back at work. The fun times are over, the weather is just cold and dark, and it's a long slog to keep going until the next holiday. That's when it hits you. That's what I mean."

The counsellor sucked on the top of his pen before speaking to me. "So you feel lost? Abandoned? Something like that?"

I shrugged. "Maybe, but those feelings don't have the same resonance as January."

"Hmm." My counsellor sat upright and looked thoughtful. "So, you can feel like January at any time?"

"Yes," I said. "After all, it's always January somewhere."