Monday Musings

The phrase Carpe Diem originated with Horace, an ancient philosopher: “C arpe diem quam minimum credulo postero ” [Translation: pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one”] Horace,  Odes  (23 BCE). Today, we roughly translate the phrase as “Seize the Day” and infer it to mean we should fully take advantage of all the opportunities life affords us, wherever and whenever they appear. In other words, not just hope in what the future may bring, but enjoy the present and cherish life’s small joys. In modern-day culture, we are reminded of this with Robin Williams’ exhortation to his students in the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society. We mourn the comic’s death to suicide since he, despite his outward humorous comportment, could not find joy himself. Are you trapped in the everyday humdrum? Or do you take time to seize the day? You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).

The holiday commemorating US Presidents is celebrated on the third Monday in February. The tradition began informally in the 1800s, with an annual day honoring George Washington on his birthday.  Washington Day  became a national federal holiday in 1879, signed into law by President Rutherford B. Hayes. At this time, Congress rejected the idea of a Presidents’ Day that would include Abraham Lincoln. The  Uniform Monday Holiday Act  was passed by Congress in 1968: this action moved Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day to Monday. The new ruling moved the holiday date midway between Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays, and thus, it became known as  Presidents’ Day  in the mid-1980s. The holiday currently remembers all US presidents, past and present. Of course, business leaped at the chance for a new marketing opportunity. Today, Presidents’ Day sales events are widely advertised. Ideally, the holiday would be an excellent time to review historical facts a

The origin of the word  hug  appears to have come from the Old Norse verb  hugga,  which means t o comfort. Historically, hugs and handshakes were used in warfare to let your adversary know you had no intent of harm by showing you had no visible weapons in hand or on your person. Hugs feel great, but they also have health benefits. A 20-second or greater hug releases oxytocin and serotonin. If a woman receives a hug from a romantic partner before a stressful situation, there is a decrease in the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Hugging may also reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. In addition, it may cause a reduction in physical pain. There are many types of hugs, which depend on the individual’s level of intrapersonal relationship; the reason for the hug may vary from sharing joy and giving comfort to romantic hugs. The article,  Seven Types of Hugs ,  describes some common examples. Many people felt a deep loneliness during the COVID-19 epidemic due to the

[Previously published 02/04/24 on Medium, X (Twitter), & LinkedIn] It was a routine appointment with my primary care physician, and we were reviewing my standard lab tests. All the numbers were on point until we got to the HgbA1C (a test to check average blood sugars). My usual range is in the mid-6’s, which means my Type II Diabetes is “adequately” controlled. This time, a red 7.2 popped up. Yikes! My doctor assured me the higher result was likely due to holiday excesses and that she actually preferred to see a bit higher number in her  elderly  patients. ELDERLY! The remainder of her explanation flew over my head as the dreaded word hit home. Yes, my 70th birthday occurred at the end of 2023. But when did I get  old ? I have collected a basket of chronic diseases over the past 30 years, partially due to genetics, the remainder probably impacted by my high-stress, 80 to 100-hour work weeks as a Trauma Surgeon. All of these ailments have stayed in a moderate stage thanks to modern