Going back to tackle second semester

[Golden_Griff]

Hey all, Griff here.

Well, Winter Break was nice but now it's time for me to return to college for the second semester. I'm trying to stay excited and optimistic, but I'm still nervous about what lies ahead.

I'll be leaving on this coming Saturday. I'll have to frenquent those highways again...yikes. Then again, I'm always nervous when it comes to driving

Secondly, this will be the first time that I would have to attend an evening class twice a week: 5:30pm-6:45pm (and on through 9:50pm on lab days)! The class (astronomy) sounds fun, but I don't know how I'll do with that scheduling. (Gosh I hope it's not boring...and demanding.) Anyway, I hope and pray that I can manage things well.

Thirdly--and this has nothing to do with school--I've been experiencing some out-of-the-ordinary aches and pains lately from playing video games and doing work on the computer. Yeah yeah, I know that they tell you that you will experience these things when you play too much. But...this is different.

I've been playing video games since I was four (with a "dry-spell" for the last year and a half). Yeah, I felt this fatigue when I played too long. But now that I've picked up video games once again, I experience a different kind of fatigue--one that's more "intense."

I've noticed that I don't experience it as much when I lie down on my back and play my video games. But I won't even be 5 minutes into my play before I start feeling strange. And as I experienced today, that strange feeling lingered for the entire hour that I was at bible study despite the fact that I was only typing on my computer before I left. (The feeling slowly eased away, but it was still there).

I'm not sure what's going on, or what the deal is with me and electronics that requires button-pushing and mouse-scrolling. I was thinking about taking my Gamecube with me back to college (hey! I've waited for years to get this baby and I'm not about to let it collect dust sitting at home!). But now that I give it some thought ...(*sniff* I don't want to give up my games! But I don't want nothing to happen to me either )

So, in summary, I would appreciate prayer for:

1. A super-awesome semester, better than ever
2. A safe journey to school on the highways on Saturday (and any other time for that matter)
3. Uh...something dealing with videogames and computers (moderation perhaps?)
4. Continued growth in Christ

Thanks. And I'll try to keep my computer-interaction to a minimum tomorrow

[agasfas]

I will pray for you. I'm heading back to college too and I have to commute everyday... It sucks to drive when it's pouring so hard you can't see like 2 feet infront of your car. Dangers will arise from everywhere. So I hope you do great this semester, have a safe trip back to college, your pain will be attended to, and you continue to grow in Christ. Good luck.

[Syreth]

Well, I'm glad to hear that you had a good winter break and I'll pray for your continued growth in Christ and that your video game problems will be dealt with Have an awesome semester at college and a safe trip down. I'll pray for you too, agasfas. I have a longer break, so I won't be flying down until the 20th or so.

[agasfas]

Oh, I don't go back until the 18th .

Anyways, I'll continue to pray for you Griff as well as you too Syreth. Also, for anyone else who needs the pray for this upcoming school semester. I'm ready to go back, but at the same time a bit tense because my course load will be a bit more. But I have faith I'll all work out for the good.

Griff, just curious. What kind of pain is it and where does it tend to ache? Anyways, I'll continue to pray for you.

[Rogie]

Yes, tell us more about the aches and pains. In the meantime, I'll remember your prayer requests, Griff!

[Golden_Griff]

I have a longer break, so I won't be flying down until the 20th or so.

Oh, I don't go back until the 18th .

Oh you guys stink! Oh well, maybe I'll get out sooner than you two

Yes, tell us more about the aches and pains. In the meantime, I'll remember your prayer requests, Griff!

Thank you for your concern guys.

*lies down on couch*

Well doc, it used to be 1 or 2 hours of play and I'll have tension in the neck muscles and in the head. But now, it won't even take a full 10 minutes before I start getting those fatigue symptoms or whatever you call it. Like now? I haven't been sitting at this computer for--must be--no longer than 5 minutes, and I'm getting tension headaches already

I wear glasses to read--the words can be blurry. And I know that I don't use them all the time when I'm playing video games or (like now) typing on the computer. Although it may be a factor, I don't think that's the main problem.

Maybe I'm just not giving my mind enough rest or something, because this has been going on since Christmas day (the same day that I got my Gamecube). And every day since Christmas, I've been on my Gamecube at least once or twice a day.

Well, from being on this computer, some things I'm experiencing right now are:

• tension in the front of my head, like over my eyes
• my neck feels funny in the front too

Sometimes, I feel tense in the top of my head, and on the sides occasionally.

*goes to get glasses, maybe that'll help a little*

Sometimes when I'm on the computer, I feel the need to close my eyes as I scroll down the page.

I don't know what's going on. Like I said, I've experienced fatigue in the past; it's a "normal" sign that it was time for a break. But now that I've picked up serious gaming once again (serious as in regular play) the fatigue seems to be stronger. I'm not sure if I'm describing it like I feel it. But the best way I can sum it up is it feels like my eyes sees too much, like my eyes/brain take in too much information...or something

*hops off couch*

Well, I appreciate the prayers. And seeing that other students await their captivity at a higher institute of learning in the coming days, I pray that we can all have a great semester.

Well, signing off,
~G_G

[Kaligraphic]

So did you survive the trip? I need to check off "Confirm that Golden_Griff survived trip" on my to-do list.


As a fellow gamer, I know the kind of feeling you mean. The thing is, when your eyes keep focus on the screen for too long, they sort of lock in. The muscles that control the eyes don't completely relax, so you "accumulate" more and more of the effect. It's sort of like having a bad muscle sprain that you keep using before it's completely healed, and re-spraining it. I would suggest holding off on playing video games for about 5 days to a week. Also, try to spend more time outside. Being outside forces your eyes to focus at longer distances, which can help break the problem. (plus, you probably won't miss video games quite as much.)

I've run into the same kinds of problems, and that's usually helped me. (works for programming, too)

[Golden_Griff]

So did you survive the trip? I need to check off "Confirm that Golden_Griff survived trip" on my to-do list.


As a fellow gamer, I know the kind of feeling you mean. The thing is, when your eyes keep focus on the screen for too long, they sort of lock in. The muscles that control the eyes don't completely relax, so you "accumulate" more and more of the effect. It's sort of like having a bad muscle sprain that you keep using before it's completely healed, and re-spraining it. I would suggest holding off on playing video games for about 5 days to a week. Also, try to spend more time outside. Being outside forces your eyes to focus at longer distances, which can help break the problem. (plus, you probably won't miss video games quite as much.)

I've run into the same kinds of problems, and that's usually helped me. (works for programming, too)

Lol, funny that you say that Kaligraphic; I was going to make a post saying that I made it safely and everything went fine. But then I thought "well that's nothing to be posting exactly"

I agree with you on the gaming thing Kaligraphic. Eyes like it better when things aren't in their face But you know what?...

I went to my roommate's church this morning and they're all going on a fast for 21 days. Well...I decided that I'll at least go for a week (since I never actually went on a fast--don't want to make drastic changes in habit ) Anyway, one of the things we have to abstine (sp?) from is television. Well, since I have to use the television to play games, I guess that means no games either...

Sooo, now I'm thinking "wait a minute...is God talking to me in this?...will this fast help me to not rely on my video games as a source of entertainment and pleasure?..."

We're all looking at this 21-day fast as a means of getting closer to God and becoming more disciplined in our daily lives. Hmm....this would be a good idea for the start on the year ...

[Mave]

Sooo, now I'm thinking "wait a minute...is God talking to me in this?...will this fast help me to not rely on my video games as a source of entertainment and pleasure?..."

We're all looking at this 21-day fast as a means of getting closer to God and becoming more disciplined in our daily lives. Hmm....this would be a good idea for the start on the year ...

You know what? A fast sounds like a good idea since you're considering it as something you need to moderate. By going without it for a while, you'll be in a far better position to make spiritual decisions about your gaming habits. Just my two cents. And yup, I'll pray for you. ^_^

[Golden_Griff]

Thanx Mave! ^_^

Oh, uh, I guess that's not fair to the rest of you ...

Thanx everyone! ^_^ *:hug: for everyone*