Now that spring is here, I’ve noticed my eyes have been tearing up lately. And, no, it’s not because I’m crying for joy (… since the winter does get awfully cold in these parts). My eyes have been more watery because I’ve experienced one of my favorite things in the world: hay fever.

I’m pretty sure that allergies are mostly mental. So it basically comes down to a battle of will power between me and the pollen. And so far, I’ve been winning the fight. In fact, things are so good that I’ve remembered that life is pretty awesome … even with a runny nose. I mean, think about it … some of the greatest musicians of all time have had their fair share of challenges—both mental and physical.

For example, John Lennon, Bob Weir, and Cher have all “suffered” from dyslexia. (Although, that condition definitely has its advantages.) And Neil Young famously experiences epileptic seizures from time to time. Oh yeah, and we can’t forget Syd Barrett—who was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. He was sadly diagnosed with schizophrenia, which doesn’t even compare to that other stuff.

Then there’s “Thunder God” Rick Allen, the one-armed drummer of Def Leopard. After losing his arm in a car accident, he has continued to tour for decades. And best of all, there’s Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. He’s still rocking after being officially pronounced dead at least 25 years ago.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not comparing my hay fever with things like death, dismemberment, or insanity. But really, allergies can be distracting, right? Anyway, the cool thing is that musicians are amazingly strong. They can face some tough challenges—and come out on top. So I guess the glass really is half full after all.