Be Zany!
 

Hi Dien & Gang,

Great thread here, with lots of good suggestions. I plan to implement some of them myself!

For me, an almost guaranteed way to alleviate, and even eliminate stress altogether, is to just GET CRAZY for a moment! Seriously. Just look in the mirror, and make a silly face. Even if you feel like you're forcing it at first, after just a fleeting moment, it will become very real. Everything will suddenly be put back into perspective...and a wave of relief will wash over you as you realize that everything really will be OK.

Another fantastic method, which Gordon gave several great examples of, is to be one with nature. Whatever your IT is, go immerse yourself in it. For me it is the ocean, as I am blessed to live steps from the crashing, yet soothing waves. For you, it may be something entirely different. But the key point is to let yourself surrender to the majesty of nature...allow yourself to be awed by its wonder...and your stress will evaporate.

There's plenty of other great ways, including many wonderful suggestions on this board. But to borrow a very appropriate buzz phrase from my dear friend Julie, above are two techniques you may want to "try on!"

All the best,

-Jesse

> I find that, the more projects I try to
> juggle, the more stressed I tend to
> become.... Recently, I've been feeling kind
> of stressed-out....

> How do you cope with stress? Anyone have any
> good stress-reducing tips to share?

> Thanks,

> Dien Rice

Easier Done Than Said
 

Dien

While there are many variations on what you're about to read, I've found these two to work the best...
[*]Imagine yourself at the beach. You're laying down at the water's edge. A wave crashes and the wash covers you briefly before going back out. And as it goes back out it takes with it all your tensions/troubles/stree/whatever. Another wave comes in... again it takes away your troubles/tensions/stree whatever. Then another wave, and another and another. However many you want.
[*]Imagine you're holding a deflated balloon. Now begin to blow it up. And as your blow it up your fill it will all your tensions/troubles/worries/stress/whatever. Once you blown all your "things" into the balloon, knot it, release it and watch it float away - taking all your tensions/troubles/worries/stress/whatever with it.


Try these. I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Michael Ross.

Oooooohhh.... Aaaaaaaahhhh!!!
 

Hi Amber!

(The subject line are the sounds you might have made while you were having your massage! :) )

> I have also been experiencing an overload of
> stress recently.

> Yesterday, I made an appointment with a
> massage therapist for a 90 minute Swedish
> massage. Very relaxing. I almost 'floated'
> out of there.

Wow, that sounds wonderful.... What a great idea! :)

Would you believe that I've never had a "professional" massage? It's probably about time.... :)

I did give a massage gift certificate as a birthday present to a friend recently.... She was over the moon about my present! She keeps thanking me.... :)

> Back at home, I then immediately mixed a
> couple of pure aromatherapy oils -
> frankincense and lavender -- put a few drops
> into hot running water and soaked in this
> steamy aromatic bath for about 20 minutes.

> Then, I slept for 12 hours! I can't remember
> when I last allowed myself the luxury of
> that amount of sleep.

> And, this morning I felt like a million
> bucks!

Amber, that sounds very very verrrrrryyyyy pleasant.... :)

> Soothing type of massage does wonders for
> the nervous system and also helps to wring
> out toxins and refresh our tissues with new
> oxygenated blood.

> No wonder thousands of people flock to spas
> for these relaxation treatments. It really
> does work, but don't stop at one
> session...get a series of them to REALLY
> rejuvenate.

> Treat yourself...you are worth it! ;~>

Thanks Amber! :)

I need a bigger bathtub.... All the bathtubs I see aren't quite long enough for me to stretch out in....

But a spa, massage, wow, zowie, sounds like just what the doctor ordered! :) (You sure your son didn't have a hand in your response???? ;) )

I really like your suggestion, and the massage part I definitely want to try out, especially since I've never had a professional massage at all....

By the way, when I was getting my friend her massage gift certificate, I noticed there are all these different massages.... Swedish massage, Japanese (?) massage, Therapeutic massage, a bunch of others I don't remember now.... (Her certificate allows her to have any of these she wishes.) Anyhow, Amber, it sounds from your response that Swedish massage is the way to go! :)

- Dien

Life is boring without a bit of zaniness!
 

Hi Jesse!

> Great thread here, with lots of good
> suggestions. I plan to implement some of
> them myself!

Yes, I agree.... I'm amazed at how many great suggestions there are here.... :)

> For me, an almost guaranteed way to
> alleviate, and even eliminate stress
> altogether, is to just GET CRAZY for a
> moment! Seriously. Just look in the mirror,
> and make a silly face. Even if you feel like
> you're forcing it at first, after just a
> fleeting moment, it will become very real.
> Everything will suddenly be put back into
> perspective...and a wave of relief will wash
> over you as you realize that everything
> really will be OK.

Heheh, I like this! Laughing just eases stress so it melts away, like butter or margarine melts on a hot slice of toast.... :)

> Another fantastic method, which Gordon gave
> several great examples of, is to be one with
> nature. Whatever your IT is, go immerse
> yourself in it. For me it is the ocean, as I
> am blessed to live steps from the crashing,
> yet soothing waves. For you, it may be
> something entirely different. But the key
> point is to let yourself surrender to the
> majesty of nature...allow yourself to be
> awed by its wonder...and your stress will
> evaporate.

Jesse, I think we have this in common! I'm also an ocean lover.... I feel like my soul is with the ocean. I sometimes love to go to the water's edge and just look out, towards infinity over that vast expanse of blue.... That immense feeling that you are just a small dot on this great planet of overwhelming natural beauty.... I think you can get the same feeling too by taking some time, on a clear night, to gaze at the stars....

I haven't gone body surfing now for a while, but body surfing is also a passion! The swirl of the wave around you as you are zipping towards the shore is a fantastic feeling (and you're getting a little bit of a massage by the wave, too, I think at the same time!).

> There's plenty of other great ways,
> including many wonderful suggestions on this
> board. But to borrow a very appropriate buzz
> phrase from my dear friend Julie, above are
> two techniques you may want to "try
> on!"

Jesse, I liked those.... In fact, I made a funny face while I was writing, and immediately broke into a smile.... :)

Thanks! :)

- Dien

Re: Life is boring without a bit of zaniness!
 

Hi Dien!

> I haven't gone body surfing now for a while,
> but body surfing is also a passion! The
> swirl of the wave around you as you are
> zipping towards the shore is a fantastic
> feeling (and you're getting a little bit of
> a massage by the wave, too, I think at the
> same time!).

***Body surfing is fantastic! I remember clearly the first time I was "tubed" while body surfing...it was electrifying! Now I am contemplating going to surf diva school next summer. My friend,Carol, and I think it would be hilarious.....

Once I had been sick for two weeks and went to visit my parents who lived at the ocean at that time. One evening I went and sat on a bench overlooking a jetty and the breakwaters with the spray just washing over me very lightly, very gently.....I was well by the next morning.

Nothing, absolutely nothing like the ocean.

*sigh* meanwhile in Bakersfield it is 112 today.

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE

Heaven on Earth!
 

Hey Amber and Dien!

(Amber! Soooo happy to see you!!!)

Massage is the best....when I gave birth to Sam I hired a Doula who was also a Massage Therapist. She was my Childbirth Coach....it was a GREAT investment and absolutely magnificent for those last few weeks of pregnancy.

I don't know about the different types of massage, Dien, I just know it feels so luxurious! There is a massage training school here locally, and I sometimes buy a series of massages from there. Always out to benefit students learning an artform! :-)

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE

The Ocean's Majesty...
 

Hey Dien,

Uncanny how much your words about the ocean resonated with me. The ocean is one of my true passions in this world...its majesty...its awesome combination of power and grace...and ability to literally take on human personas never cease to amaze and inspire me. Ever since my childhood, I have been inexplicably drawn to it, and it was a main catalyst in my moving across the country as I did.

You are also right on the mark about body surfing. It really is quite a sensation! Now if I could only learn how to surf on an actual board...:)

Anyway, glad to hear you picked up some great stress tips, as did I.

Best,

Jesse

> Hi Jesse!

> Yes, I agree.... I'm amazed at how many
> great suggestions there are here.... :)

> Heheh, I like this! Laughing just eases
> stress so it melts away, like butter or
> margarine melts on a hot slice of toast....
> :)

> Jesse, I think we have this in common! I'm
> also an ocean lover.... I feel like my soul
> is with the ocean. I sometimes love to go to
> the water's edge and just look out, towards
> infinity over that vast expanse of blue....
> That immense feeling that you are just a
> small dot on this great planet of
> overwhelming natural beauty.... I think you
> can get the same feeling too by taking some
> time, on a clear night, to gaze at the
> stars....

> I haven't gone body surfing now for a while,
> but body surfing is also a passion! The
> swirl of the wave around you as you are
> zipping towards the shore is a fantastic
> feeling (and you're getting a little bit of
> a massage by the wave, too, I think at the
> same time!).

> Jesse, I liked those.... In fact, I made a
> funny face while I was writing, and
> immediately broke into a smile.... :)

> Thanks! :)

> - Dien

Re: Life is boring without a bit of zaniness!
 

Hi Julie :)

> ***Body surfing is fantastic! I remember
> clearly the first time I was
> "tubed" while body surfing...it
> was electrifying! Now I am contemplating
> going to surf diva school next summer. My
> friend,Carol, and I think it would be
> hilarious.....

I think you should, if you have the opportunity.... It would probably be a LOT of fun! :)

I thought it's quite interesting seeing the growth of women in surfing the past couple decades.... Women surfers used to be a kind of unusual adjunct to what seemed to be a "men's" sport, but nowadays, women surfers are pretty common. I guess we men couldn't keep it our own secret for too long! ;)

> Once I had been sick for two weeks and went
> to visit my parents who lived at the ocean
> at that time. One evening I went and sat on
> a bench overlooking a jetty and the
> breakwaters with the spray just washing over
> me very lightly, very gently.....I was well
> by the next morning.

> Nothing, absolutely nothing like the ocean.

I agree with you! To me, the ocean is kind of magical.... It's wonderful to know that there are kindred spirits who feel the same way as I do! :)

> *sigh* meanwhile in Bakersfield it is 112
> today.

Wow, sounds like a real heatwave! It's winter here in Melbourne (Australia) now, and we're getting maximums of around 54 degrees F (12 degrees C).... It's a bit too cold for body surfing, but when the sun is out and shining, it's not too bad.... :)

- Dien

Re: The Ocean's Majesty...
 

Hi Jesse!

> Uncanny how much your words about the ocean
> resonated with me. The ocean is one of my
> true passions in this world...its
> majesty...its awesome combination of power
> and grace...and ability to literally take on
> human personas never cease to amaze and
> inspire me. Ever since my childhood, I have
> been inexplicably drawn to it, and it was a
> main catalyst in my moving across the
> country as I did.

Jesse, I also have this crazy attraction to the ocean.... I think in my case, I probably got it from my Dad. He seems to have it too.... :)

He grew up in a small town called Coldwater, Michigan, and I think when he was a kid, they used to sometimes go to the shores of Lake Michigan for their holidays. My Dad ended up doing some of his university studies at University of Hawaii! To make some extra cash there, he worked as a "diver" for the glass-bottomed boats....

I think the "story" for the tourists was they could "see a deep sea diver on an underwater hunt," watching him through the glass-bottomed boat! My Dad was one of those guys, wearing scuba gear, making sure he was always directly under the boat, while turning over interesting objects on the sea floor for the benefit of the tourists. :)

As I was growing up (wherever we were, as we moved around a little bit), my Dad would take us (my brother and I) skin-diving and body surfing too.... We always lived in a city by the ocean.... And I picked up this love of the ocean (both above and below) too! :)

Probably like you, Jesse, the ocean has long been my "getaway".... It's one of the main places I go when I feel a need to ponder life's mysteries, gazing out over the stunning scenery as far as the eye can see.... :)

Thanks Jesse, it's cool to meet a kindred spirit with a similar love for the ocean.... :)

By the way, did you see the movie "Perfect Storm"? Wow, there's another side of the ocean.... Full of beauty, power, and mystery....

- Dien

Re: How do you cope with stress?
 

> I find that, the more projects I try to
> juggle, the more stressed I tend to
> become.... Recently, I've been feeling kind
> of stressed-out....

> How do you cope with stress? Anyone have any
> good stress-reducing tips to share?

> Thanks,

> Dien Rice

I find that first, if you make sure you're using good time managment skills you dont get stressed as easy because you know exactly what you are do and how long each task will take. Try it, it works for me.

Work smarter not harder....

Clayton




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