WHBU 1240 AM

If you visit our house, any day, you’ll find a note taped to our fridge.  I originally printed it for a friend of mine at work, but decided it contained words I could apply, too.  It’s about stress.

Everyone has stress.  Recently, “Castaway” was on television.  It’s a film I’d enjoyed years ago, so armed with popcorn, I plunked down to watch it again.  For many life on a desert island would be ideal, but after a few minutes I realized…it would be too stressful for me.  My world requires a dentist…

Life isn’t without stress.  Monks living on mountains, people in cities, farmers, supermodels, and everyone else has stress.  But, like so many things in life it’s not about what happens, but how you deal with it.  In the space of the last paragraph my phone rang 3 times and two people stopped into the office.  The challenge in those situations is to have capital in your “de-stresser bank.”  In times like a moment ago, make a small withdraw, and move on.

Too many people, I think, don’t make deposits into their “bank.”  I have friends, relatives, and even co-workers, who don’t take time to relax.  I don’t mean the giant mega-vacations, but just a couple of minutes each day to appreciate the day.

This morning, for example, the sky was amazing.  About 5:15 the moon was full up, huge in the sky, clouds forming a bit of perspective, and the air was a little crisp.  I just stood there, for a moment, and enjoyed the morning.  10-minutes ago, I took a breath, and remembered that moment…

Stress can and will kill you.  The suicide  and heart attack rates are higher on Sunday nights and Monday mornings.  Why?  What is it about those days that cause problems?  It’s the pending work week.  The thought of dread that another one is coming.

Make deposits into your “de-stresser bank.”  I’ve included a link to the complete list of 101 ways to cope with stress.  There are LOTS of copies out there, but I chose the link from the hawaii education folks…even their link looks relaxing.

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/101ways.htm

It the link doesn’t work, just copy it into your address bar on your browser.  Trust me, it’s not worth getting “stressed” over.

Things are starting to pile up, and it’s back to the hectic part of my day.  A red light on my phone is blinking, saying messages are waiting; the secretary keeps peaking into the office holding papers; and my e-mail probably has an ‘urgent’ message or two.  But, for the last 20 minutes I’ve relaxed by writing a blog, which I enjoy, with my feet on the desk.  Find little moments to make deposits into your “bank” each day.