Whoever personified Old Man Winter with ruddy cheeks blowing gale force winds, clearly never has lived in Denver. It could have been some poor chap marching with the penguins, but winter has gotten a bad rap and it's time for reconciliation.

For most people, winter is filled with holiday festivals and plenty of friends. It's a time for napping in front of a cozy fire after a day of skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling or snowshoeing. But when you're feeling gloomy, it's hard to enjoy winter's most wondrous activities. If a little bit of frost feels more like a big sting, there's a chance you might have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Short winter days with less light bring on the "winter blues," but there's help to get you through the next few months. Read the helpful tips below, but if your symptoms are more severe, please consult a physician.

You are what you eat: Food can trigger symptoms of the blues all year long, but if you're over-indulging in hearty winter fare, you're really doing yourself a disservice. Sugar — found in the three lethal C's: cookies, cake and candy — can also sour a perfectly sweet day. The highs and lows of sugar, coupled with alcohol consumption and overeating, can spike the blues. Limit your sugar intake to 5 percent of your current consumption and curb mood swings by balancing sweet treats with healthier food.

Looking for love: The month of February has been a time for lovers since the Roman Empire, circa 270, and Valentine's Day has sky-rocketed love for sale through greeting cards, flowers, chocolate and jewels. For singles seeking love, it can be a month full of loneliness and despair. Forget the romance and focus on Leap Year! Every four years on the 29th day of February, the calendar year and astronomical year are recalibrated for balance – and so are you. It's a surplus of 24 hours to spend wisely, while your biorhythms are being naturally reset. You might not feel the difference on the outside, but it's there on the inside.

Exercise body and mind: Mix up your exercise routine. Add 20 minutes of meditation every day and try Qigong for inner balance. (Qigong is an ancient system of movements emphasizing Qi energy in the body to quiet the mind. Studies have shown countless benefits and it's easy to practice regardless of physical limitations.) The key is to keep moving. A ballroom dance class is an inexpensive way to have fun — and a great workout. Walking through a mall (during off hours) can kick in your endorphins without worrying about slippery sidewalks — or over-spending.

Marty Chapman is founder of The Life Council and a certified Qigong instructor. She can be reached at 303.691.0093 or www.TheLifeCouncil.com.