I figured out this morning why my lacrimal glands tend to produce ample lubrication exactly the second right after I get a big drink of water. It is not how I thought (that the water somehow goes up through my head immediately and out my eyes). Instead, it's probably because of my pterygopalatine ganglion (a parasympathetic nerve, meaning it's in close proximity and close communication with its subject, the lacrimal glands). The pterygopalatine ganglion is connected right at the back of my face near the upper mandible back to the greater superficial petrosal nerve, which in turn is connected back to the maxillary nerve. The maxillary nerve transmits sensory fibers from the maxillary teeth and mouth out to these sister nerves. 

So, when I take a drink of water, Maxillary Nerve says (innervates) "Hey guys, there's cold wet stuff in here, probably WATER!" and Greater Petrosal Nerve says "Dude, Maxillary tells me there's water going in right NOW!" and Pterygopalatine Ganglion says "Thank GOD, because lacrimal's been hung over since all that beer was consumed last night! I'll tell him!" And boom, my eyes fill with delicious, refreshing lacrimal fluids. So cool. 

Be Timewise

I’ve very recently decided to start using my time more wisely. As many throughout forever have said in many different ways: you only get one life--live it. I want to make sure that, when I get old enough to not have to do anything for anyone or for society anymore, that I can look back at a life that I lived to the best of my ability. I want to have had fun, been productive, loved, taught, given my opinion, convinced that my opinion was the right one, and left a mark on this world that would be remembered. 

 So, it’s a tall order, really. It’s so much easier to spend my time getting through the work day, toting kids around to this and that, vacationing beyond its affordability, drinking alcohol whenever I feel like it, playing games, sleeping, getting fat, lying on couches… it’s harder to decide to use the 8 hours at work for being productive, usually in what they expect me to be doing, and sometimes for involving myself in other worldly endeavors, like helping my kids’ schools or extracurricular activities. It’s harder to retain my own identity in the face of motherhood, wifedom, as a friend, board member, president, or employee. It’s difficult to take the pay that you’ve earned and spend it on just what you need--and not to take money you’ve never earned to ‘get away, because we deserve it.’ It’s hard to spend time walking, reading, getting up early, feeling healthy, instead of staying up late, drinking, sleeping in, lying around. 

I said years ago, and I stick to it, that no one ever said it would be easy. While living the life you want sometimes feels just right--often, and most importantly--most de-railingly, it’s tough. As soon as it’s tough, you want to quit. That’s the point where you have to push on. On the other side of it you can look back and be glad you got through, but on the front side of the toughness, you just don’t have the energy. That desire, that need to just be and to not be great… it’s overwhelming. 

 So, what is my plan? Well first thing I did is write down a new little note to myself of what I want to be thinking about/focusing on, and put it in a place where I’ll see it several times per day. The word is “timewise.” Be wise with my time. Time will always plod on, and I know that every minute, every hour, every year will pass faster as my relative time in this world goes on--so I need to do the right thing with this incredible gift I’m given every day--time, and the freedom to choose what to do with it. I want to choose the best path, every day, every hour, every minute. Moreover, when I don’t choose the best path, I want to get right back onto it as soon as I can.