Those One-Idea Days
December 7, 2007 5:26 pm
So I hear we're supposed to live every day like it was Christmas. Sometimes that seems like a good idea. Other times - the tense times, the sick times, the frustrating times - it seems like a nightmare. At times like this, one Christmas is more than enough.
Then again, maybe one Christmas isn't enough. Here's the problem - too often we pin all our hopes and dreams on one day (this might apply the same to a wedding, graduation, a visit with someone...). We have one Christmas dinner, one chance to go carolling, one visit with the kids, one - well, whatever special tradition you may have. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, you know exactly what I'm talking about - those occasions that are so important you just have to be healthy for them!
Frankly, those occasions have got to go.
French philosopher Émile Chartier once said,"Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have." I think his words apply.
I must be a realist - single ideas scare me. If they don't work, that's it - I'm trapped.
What's your one idea this holiday season? Ask yourself, is there anything that I'm pinning all my hopes on? Will I sink into despair if such-and-such doesn't happen, if I don't go there, if I don't see them? The pressure is enough to make one sick.
No matter how hard we plan, no matter how careful we are, many of us know deep down that it may not happen. That migraine attack might hit, that headache, or whatever it is that yanks us out of circulation. Let's start with that cold fact and move on.
This holiday season, let's resist the urge to want everything to be perfect, and especially to want a certain time to be perfect. Instead, let's plan for a few. Let's accept the fact that some will work, some will not. Let's enjoy the next few weeks moment by moment.
Why does there have to be one huge special meal? Couldn't there be two meals to look forward to - meals that are a little simpler, a little less work?
You see, I'm not necessarily suggesting you add more to your schedule - I'm just suggesting you spread it out a little.
Why not take only 15 minutes today to enjoy some music? Why not plan to call a friend sometime this week that you haven't seen for a couple of years? Why not enjoy some special, surprise moments as they come along?
I realize we're not going to be able to avoid all those one-idea times. But maybe if we rebel, just a little, against the one-day mentality, and demand more special times as we go along, it may just make a more joyful season. It might take off just a little of the pressure. And no matter when we're sick or well, we may find there are some memories worth having.
This post is part of the Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival, hosted by Somebody Heal Me.
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Surviving the Holidays
December 10, 2007 9:09 am
The very first edition of the Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival was posted today. There are lots of entries I'm sure you'll enjoy reading.
For those that don't know, a blog carnival happens when a bunch of bloggers post on related topics, and those posts are all linked together in one place. Here's the result:
Surviving the Holidays: Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival
The holiday season can be a fun time of year filled with high expectations, special events, family and friends and lots of great food. But it is also a minefield for headache and migraine sufferers. The first edition of the Headache & Migraine Disease Carnival is filled with commiseration and ideas to help you cope.
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Hot/Cold Therapy: cheap
December 21, 2007 5:00 pm
We've all seen those heating/cooling pads. You can put them in the microwave or freezer, and cool/warm your head or neck or whatever you want. The executive models even include essential oils or other goodies that can help alleviate a headache.
Last year blog TipNut.com came out with some great tips for making your own pad for a lot less than you'd pay at the store. The beauty of this approach is that you can custom-make it. You know what will be the most help to you - and you might even be able to afford to experiment a little.
I do recommend herbs and essential oils. Here are some of the oils that are most used for headache. Personally, I'm a fan of lavender.
Some people like to have two pads, so they can alternate hot and cold. See what works best for you. Here are the tips! (Thanks to Lifehacker)
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Those flickering Compact Fluorescents!
December 24, 2007 8:57 am
I appreciated this post on CFLs (no, not the Canadian Football League - Compact Fluorescent Lights) from Somebody Heal Me. I think this is a topic that has snuck up on a lot of us, and this is a great reminder to think about it.
For years people with migraine or headache have complained about the bane of fluorescent lights. The flicker of these bulbs (even when new) is what causes the problem. If defective, the fluorescent bulbs may even trigger an epileptic attack.
Start looking up, and you'll realize that your bulbs are slowly being replaced with CFLs. The reason is, of course, they're cost and energy efficient. But are they quickly increasing health issues at work, school, and in the home? If so, the efficiency may quickly be lost.
There is an alternative - LED lights. There are downsides. LEDs are expensive (in the short term), and they tend to be rather focused - meaning that it takes more to generally light an area (such as a large office room). They also don't generate as much light.
But the upsides of LEDs are many. First, they are more energy efficient. Second, they are most cost efficient in the long run - lasting 6 times longer than CFLs. Also, they are cool - excellent to replace those bright, hot lights in your bathroom or right over your desk. And no more flicker!
Here's hoping that the technology of LEDs will continue to improve and the cost will continue to drop.
I hope to see more buildings taking advantage of natural light - skylights, windows and mirrors. You can take advantage of it too - make yourself mobile and go somewhere where the light is better.
Meanwhile, don't be ashamed to request LEDs in your workplace. Start saving to replace fluorescent lights in your home with LEDs in places where it will work. Carry around sunglasses, if that helps. Turn off the big, fluorescent overhead lights and use a focused LED for what you're doing. There are other alternatives - being green doesn't have to mean being sick!
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