After my last visit with my neurologist in January, I’d begun to take vitamin B2 and magnesium to see if that would help prevent some of my headaches. It seemed to be helping for a month or so, but the last three weeks have been pretty damn rough. I’ve had a headache nearly every day for the past three weeks. I’m really hoping that when I see my neurologist today, she has some advice and can help. It seems every time I take a step forward in fighting my migraines, I end up taking two steps back. Nothing seems to help for long.
Tomorrow, I have an appointment with my primary care doctor. I have a few things to discuss with him, and he will most likely check my A1C. Other than the headaches and a few occasional bouts of depression, I seem to be doing ok. I’ve lost a little weight, which should please him. Like my migraines, my weight is another constant struggle. Every time I lose a few pounds, they come right back a few days later. One step forward, two steps back.
It’s like my life is one complex (and uncoordinated) line dance. 🕺 Why can’t it just let me do the Electric Slide, or better yet, the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, at least then I might have some fun doing it. Actually, line dancing or just about any kind of dance steps was something I was always horrible at. It was always more anxiety over getting the steps right than having fun. The only dance I ever mastered was the Hokey Pokey, or maybe that stupid Chicken Dance. 😂
This picture might not be to everyone’s taste, but I like it. I like it for two reasons: 1) Nico Coopa is one very sexy man, and 2) the picture reminds me of spring fashion. Pink and green exude spring to me, and this picture certainly has a lot of pink, and Nico looks damn good in pink.
His Instagram (@nicocoopa) shows a little more than I am willing to post on Sunday night, but you can check it out for yourself. He’s a very talented man (in many ways).
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
— Romans 12:12
In tough and uncertain times, it can be difficult to look beyond what’s currently happening in our lives and see the light at the end of the tunnel. Whether we’re going through a big life change, a hard time with our family, or personal health concerns, an optimistic frame of mind can help us see a difficult challenge as an opportunity for gratitude. When you’re feeling low, try to find the silver linings in your hardships.
People can survive with minimal amounts of food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation, and even affection. For example, take a look at the Digambara of Jainism. They are male ascetics who relinquish all property and wear no clothes. They are extreme in their belief in non-violence, even brushing away the path in front of them so as not to step on and possibly kill a living creature. They drink water from a gourd, beg for only a handful of food, and eat only once a day. However, if they hear a cry for help, animal or human, they forgo their food for the day and try to help whoever is in need. What drives them is the hope that their devotion to asceticism will allow them to achieve moksha, a spiritual release that ends the cycle of reincarnation, and the liberated pure soul goes up to the summit of the universe and dwells there in eternal bliss.
The idea of moksha is similar to our idea of heaven. We hope that we live our lives in such a way that God’s love will envelop our souls after death, and He will welcome us in heaven, where our souls will dwell in eternal bliss. Have you ever wondered what hope truly is? It is a difficult term to define because it is more than just wishful thinking, though that is how we often use it. It goes deeper than that. Even dictionary definitions show that hope should be more substantial than mere wishful thinking. One dictionary defines it as “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
One scholar said that for those who do not know Jesus, hope is a verb. But for the Christians, hope is also a noun. This is an important distinction. Hope is not simply something we do with teeth gritted and fingers crossed. Hope—joyful expectation—is something we have. We possess hope because we know the God who is the source of and the reason for our hope. True hope is not simply the equivalent of “hoping” everything will turn out for the best. True hope is dynamic and powerful because it considers the circumstances of life realistically—and then confidently rest in the promises and character of God.
Hope gives us life. The fictional author Pittacus Lore wrote, “When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” Can we survive without hope? I think the answer to that question is that we cannot survive physically or spiritually without hope. Physically, if we abandon hope, we would give up our minds and bodies, and life would no longer be important to us. Spiritually, hope is the essence of the Christian faith. We hope to go to heaven one day, we hope that God hears and answers our prayers, and we hope that our labor isn’t in vain. Proverbs 23:18 advises us, “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Hope can be an expectation and anticipation that rests on what we believe. This means that for Christians, hope can be as strong as what we have learned about God’s goodness and faithfulness. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In a way, as long as we have hope, we have the Holy Spirit within us. Lamentations 3:20-24 says, “My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”
As the flowers start to bloom, the leaves begin to bud in the trees, and the sun stays out a little longer, we’re reminded that spring is the ultimate time of renewal when we can take the time to reset ourselves and spiritually prepare ourselves for the year ahead. As the poem An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope says, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest.” Over a hundred times, the Bible mentions hope. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall soar on wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” We should follow the example of the American historical novelist Sharon Kay Penman who wrote, “I inhale hope with every breath I take.”
For me, there are few things more peaceful than watching a river rushing over rocks and the sound it makes. It’s even nicer if I can sit on a rock with the water rushing over my feet. It’s not warm enough to put bare feet in the streams of Vermont, but it will get there eventually.
If Susan had not emailed and reminded me, I’d have totally forgotten to post anything today, and apparently, I forgot to post a Pic of the Day. Originally, the Star Wars pic yesterday was supposed to be my Pic of the Day, but I really didn’t have much to say yesterday, so I made it my main post. I guess I then forgot to schedule anything for that evening. I know I’d thought about it, but there was an issue with my morning post, so I guess I got sidetracked.
Anyway. This is one week that I’m not thankful it’s Friday because that means my vacation is almost over. I have Monday and Tuesday off, but I have doctor appointments on both days: my neurologist and a general checkup with my very hot regular doctor. Anyway, it’s all good. While today is going to be another cloudy day, it looks like we might have a nice weekend.
Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate the Star Wars media franchise created by founder, former chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm, George Lucas. Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977.
The date originated from the pun “May the Fourth be with you,” a variant of the popular Star Wars catchphrase “May the Force be with you.”Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans around the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday. It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and parent company Disney as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
The release date of the original Star Wars movie, May 25, 1977, is celebrated by some as Geek Pride Day.
I may just have to watch Star Wars today. I may even watch the whole original trilogy. I haven’t done that in years.
It’s nice to have a vacation away from work. I say vacation from work because this is not really a vacation where I am going anywhere, nor is it much of a staycation since I haven’t been able to see some of the things I’d love to see here in Vermont. Because of the rain (and the migraines that come with it), so far, it’s been a homecation. It’s nice, though, having nothing pressing that needs doing and just being lazy on the couch with Isabella sleeping nearby and watching some TV. Speaking of Isabella, she hasn’t really let me sleep in. She’s used to me being up around 5 am, so she gets pretty antsy if I don’t get up. However, because of nothing to do, I can take a nap whenever I want. While most of the time, I enjoy having something to do; sometimes, it’s nice to just do nothing and (do my best) to worry about nothing.
It’s supposed to rain all day today, but Thursday and Friday have no rain in the forecast, though it is supposed to be cloudy. However, Saturday and Sunday look like sunny days. I hope that I am able to get out and do a little hiking. I may even head down to Quechee Gorge, i.e., “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon,” and do some hiking there. It should be pretty spectacular right now with the amount of rain plus the snow melt from the mountains, the rivers are full, and the waters are rushing over the rocks. I suspect it’s quite beautiful at Quechee, with the white water rushing down the gorge instead of the usual lazy stream that runs through it. Or, instead of going down to Quechee, I might stay close and hike along the Winooski River or one of the other local rivers instead. We’ll see.
Joe
The Closet Professor 