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Put duties aside at least an hour before bed and perform soothing, quiet activities that will help you relax. -Dianne Hales
So I spent the weekend at my grandmothers. I left Thursday after a dentist appointment and didn't come home until Sunday. During that time I had come to a conclusion, that is probably very obvious, yet at the same time unnoticed by many.
We rush through life.
We move forward with out looking back, or around for that matter. Just blindly heading forward, not thinking about what might be ahead, what might be passing us, or what was left behind. Stress levels are high because we rush through life like its a race, not taking a single moment to stop.
My weekend had been so relaxing after having weeks of stress. I felt so renewed and vibrant. I felt good about myself, which I haven't felt in some time. I was concious of the things around me.
When I spent the weekend with my grandmother I noticed things. When we went shopping, people bustled about, pushing and forcing their way through. Not being patient and stopping. Eager to get it done, not enjoying the moment.
The grocery store. The mall. It all was chaotic.
The roads were the same. So eager to get home, people let themselves become twisted with rage. Even when people get home though they barely unwind, because their so tightly wound that its almost impossible.
Paul J. Rosch, MD, F.A.C.P., THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STRESS said that an estimated 58 million affected, almost 30% were unaware of their illness, 42% were not being treated, and at the time that their BP was measured, 69% did not have their hypertension controlled.
People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are:
3 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease
6 times more likely to develop congestive heart failure
7 times more likely to have a stroke
That's a lot. If you just took a moment to smell the coffee, roses, or whatever is around you (even garbage!) you would notice the world around you. When you just stop rushing, things become more easy. Its bad enough we have things out of our control that cause stress (trust me I know) but we don't need to add things that we could control to it.
Life is passing us by. Take a moment to notice things you never noticed, or do things you've never done. Stop running the race, there isn't a finish line.
I mean have you ever noticed the small things that you never thought of? For instence, I love the feeling of my teeth after a cleaning at the dentist. The way they slip along my tongue. Smooth and clean. Refreshing. Has anyone ever noticed that feeling?
Or has anyone ever danced in their underwear by themselves? Acted out the seen from Risky Business? Me and my cousin use to do it all the time at her house. Crank up the music and just have fun.
Or taken a walk on the beach with out any motives behind it like trying to loose weight? Or sat down and just read a book or played a game? Or slept all day because you just could!
If we stopped running we could have fun.
Take this advice:
Slow down. Smell the coffee in the morning. Pick flowers on the side of the road. Dream a dream that's impossible and relish in it. Write a poem or paint a picture, even if you don't have the skill. Take your dog for a walk. Sing to a song, even if its off key. Take a bubble bath! Take a walk on the beach and dip your feet in the water. And dance in your underwear with the music cranked up as loud as it can go.
Live life. Stop rushing. Relax. Tomorrow isn't going anywhere.
 Moutons Noire · Thu Jul 06, 2006 @ 02:55am · 0 Comments |
