Monday Mailaise

Lois & I used to identify the last few weeks of January with a mental slump. Well, I've been in a mental slump for some time now. Is it symptomatic with the time of year? Is it symptomatic of my clinical depression. Not sure.

Symptoms include the following:

• Difficulty focusing, which I have noticed in my reading, as well as my writing for Orphan Grain Train.
• General feelings of apathy.
• A disconnect from other people & social situations.
• A desire to hibernate.
• Mental lethargy.

Today I have a session with my therapist, whom I've not seen for some time now. I imagine that we will spend some time addressing these symptoms.

January seems a likely time for general malaise, which may be associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This affliction often accompanies clinical depression. The winter already seems long--too long--& there are many weeks yet to come.

Until last night--when I was pretty much awake from 2:30a until the alarm went off at 6:00, I've been sleeping pretty well. Maybe too well.

• I've been napping for an hour or more pretty much every day.
• Due to a case of bronchitis & a bad cough, I've been taking cough medicine with codeine at bedtime. 
• Last night I didn't take any, because my cough has pretty much disappeared. Did I get a little too dependent on codeine?

Due to my bronchitis & cough I haven't been reporting for cardiac maintenance. Regular exercise is known to improve mental health. 

New Year's Resolutions Update

It's been almost a month since I made them, so here's my update.

• Not to read any partisan diatribes re:  the 2020 elections. Although I continue to read partisan diatribes, I've avoided those focused on the next round of elections. [Maybe reading ANY partisan diatribes would improve my outlook on life.]
• Add to our list of National Parks & cross something off our bucket list. This will have to wait until September when we plan to visit Teddy Roosevelt & Glacier National Parks.
• Lose 10 lbs. Thanks to my slovenly eating habits, I only have 12 lbs to go.
• Treat Sammy with more patience. Hmmm. Not sure about this one.
• Help put out all our Christmas decorations. This will have to wait until November.
• Work out at least 3X per week. I haven't worked out very much this month--certainly nowhere close to 3X per week.
• Continue spending an hour or so in "quiet time" every day. Yes.
• Wrote a devotion book for the 2019 Orphan Grain Train Convention [which is in September]. I haven't started yet. I've been suffering from writers' bloc.
• Receive a DNA report from Ancesstry.com. I mailed in my kit on 12/31 but haven't heard anything yet.

LIVING UNDER GRACE 

He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy & awesome is His name!” Ps. 111:9

“God is to be praised because He has not based His gracious covenant of the forgiveness of sin on our merit but on His Word, & because He still commands that it should stand firm & eternal, not falling when we win, nor becoming valid when we are pious.” (Martin Luther Psalm by Psalm, Concordia Publishing House, 2017.)