Your flight is delayed and you are stuck at the airport, about to miss a speaking engagement. A dear friend is in hospital. An editor wants rewrites NOW.
We've all been in positions when the stress threatens to become unbearable. I have developed one small tool that I carry with me. On my iPad I have an album of scenes of beauty, most taken by me. I gaze at them, one by one, and feel the tension slip away. I smile as I remember the joy of hiking up to the Matterhorn, of seeing Monet's waterlilies. It makes the time go and I feel refreshed.
So I thought I'd share a few of them with you now.
The pictures are lovely, Rhys . . . .
ReplyDeleteFighting stress is always difficult --- usually I listen to soft, quiet, peaceful classical music . . . .
I think that's a wonderful trick, Rhys, and your photos are lovely. I used to do what Joan does, except that the production of peaceful classical music is usually what's causing the stress for me these days! Instead, I turn to my dogs when I get stressed out. A nice walk with one or more of them is always good, but sometimes all it takes is letting down the tailgate of my truck and inviting my girl up to sit beside me. She leans in to me. I lean in to her, and together we watch the rest of them romp around the back yard. All my cares slip away.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect way to calm yourself, Rhys. And the door onto the ocean/lake - I want to go there! I find it calming to lose myself in a good book or to go for a long walk.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, Rhys! When I'm stressed, I make lists. Prioritize all the things that I can at least control. Sometimes that helps.
ReplyDeleteI make lists, too, Hallie. Feels so good to cross things off.
DeleteI'm with you Hallie. Lists seem to make things manageable, and crossing something off is a huge relief.
DeleteYep! Lists, always lists.
DeleteLists. The cure. It chops big issues into little, manageable pieces. And music. After stressing phone calls with a truly irrational relative? Bach! The most rational of music. Restored sanity.
DeleteSo wise!
DeleteGreat relaxing scenes, Rhys. The mountains, the water and nature all work for me to relieve stress. So my best way to de-stress is to take a long walk/hike or bike ride outdoors.
ReplyDeleteSince I retired, I've said bye bye to all work stress, which is an amazing feeling. Even still I have infrequent dreams about forgetting a patient, showing up late to class/work/insert venue here.
ReplyDeleteThis morning my only stress, hardly stress at all, was thinking about the strawberry rhubarb pie I need to build for this evening's do. I have a package of Wegman's ready made pie crust in the fridge, but that seems like cheating, especially since this is probably the only strawberry rhubarb pie I'll make this summer. And it IS for company.
So, in the middle of my first cup of coffee, I took a trip to Tim and Victor's Joyous Recipes and checked out Tim's no fail butter pastry, made in the food processor. I've never made pastry in a food processor up until now.
OMG it was easy, and I can tell by the feel that it will be just right.
I think.
If I didn't over-process it.
If I let it chill half the day.
If I roll it out just right.
If. If. If.
Oh what the hell, it will be the best strawberry rhubarb pie these people will eat all day.
Now that I think of it, my go to solution for stress is to lose myself in a book (thank you Reds) or to lose myself in the kitchen. Guided imagery doesn't do it. Pie does.
Ann in Rochester who could make two pies if anyone wants to drop by this afternoon
Pie is always a good idea.
DeleteStrawberry rhubarb is just about my most favorite pie ever!
DeleteI have a Julia Child pie crust recipe that uses the food processor. No fail!
DeleteI'm like Edith - I go into a good book or take a walk in the country.
ReplyDeleteBooks, music, being out in the country--all help with destressing.
ReplyDeleteThe door open to the water is such an arresting photo, Rhys! I can't stop looking at it.
Right now the work stress is high. I can't read or take a walk until lunch but I do have pictures of my niece's baby boy born six weeks ago. I pull out my phone and look at THE most beautiful baby!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
That is such a good idea, Rhys, looking at those photos! Sometimes I do that too, but I did not realize that was why, you know? If I can, I just go outside. Walk around the garden, or even float in the pool. I n airports, sometimes I just be, you know? I think… There's nothing I can do about any of this, let me just be happy to be alive.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of stress comes from dwelling on the "what ifs," so training yourself to be here, now, is perfect, Hank. Don't worry about what might happen, and simply appreciate the moment you're in.
DeleteLove you!
DeleteWhat a wonderful way to deal with stress, Rhys, and what beautiful pictures these all are. My favorite is the door looking out to the seas, as one of my favorite paintings is "Rooms by the Sea" by Edward Hopper. In Hopper's painting, the door of a room opens right on the sea. Kaye Wilkinson Barley and I both have quite the affection for doors and windows opening onto the sea paintings, and Kaye introduced me to Karen Hollingsworth's paintings of windows looking out to the sea. I think this type of setting and picture could do much to calm me.
ReplyDeleteOf course, my best method of de-stressing and pulling myself back to a happy place is looking at pictures of my granddaughters. Looking at them, I think that whatever else may be, they are the joy that all roads have and do lead to.
That door photo is spectacular, Rhys! I read and go for walks, but the thing I find most helpful when dealing with stress is talking to someone I love. My husband always makes me feel better and helps me put things in perspective. My mom, sisters, and friends can also help. There's also an image that I call on when things are out of my control, which is to imagine I'm on a moving train: I can run up and down the aisle, but I'm not going to get there any faster! I may as well enjoy the scenery!
ReplyDeleteVery wise - I love the mental image of the train and the logic of just enjoying the scenery.
DeleteExcellent way to deal, Rhys. My daughter's stuck in an airport as we speak - I will have to forward this to her. In my first career, I traveled regularly across multiple time zones and to places where lengthy travel delays and complications were a given. I learned to go into a zen mode that serves me well.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, Marian!
DeleteGreat pix Rhys--and you're all so smart! For me, I have a relaxation tape I like a lot from Diane Tusek. Also, lying on the couch stroking a purring cat does wonders!
ReplyDeleteA walk in nature or a short meditation or I throw myself into my work. If it's really rough, I call my mom. Moms always know just what to say.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised how cathartic letting loose a long stream of profanity is...
ReplyDeleteI tend to stew when I get stressed or ticked off, which probably doesn't do my heart or blood pressure any good.
Besides the occasional Vesuvius like explosion, I try to just go away from people and just let things calm down in a slow manner. Sometimes it takes a good long while, sometimes not.
If I'm at home, I know that just laying on the bed and reading or even just vegging out to something on TV usually takes my mind off whatever was ticking me off.
But getting away from people is always a good thing since they are 99 44/100% the reason I'm mad in the first place.
Rhys, I find your photos relaxing, too. I also take photos for relaxation and find it much like meditation.
ReplyDeleteI ask myself some questions: Am I in charge? Did I make a mistake? What can I change? If the answer is "no" to all of these, then I sit and focus on being, observing, and sometimes breathing. In an airport, I will count the number of redheads that pass in front of me. If a deadline is looming, will sit a bit and breathe. If the situation is beyond my control, I focus on turning said situation back to those in charge. I try to stay in the golden now. This works for me. photos are good too, of course. the Materhorn is lovely, Rhys, did you know Disney has one or two just like it?
ReplyDeleteCoralee--redheads? That is completely hilarious! Awesome.
DeleteIf I am home, give my sweetie pup Tyler a rub and I calm down immediately. I rarely get upset though. Usually just when dealing with automated phone systems.
ReplyDeleteOther thanbthe things many people said except ear plugs, I take a few washcloths with me in saeled zipper bags. In one bag I have one very damp washcloth which can be used with some ice for cooling off in tbe heat anywhere you are including a crowded room or train or plane. If you have a headache it works to cool your head or temples or as an eye mask to block out light. If you want to get refreshed you can use one of the cloths for that especially if your flight is very delayed. I have some very pretty washcloths which are bright colors so you don't forget them easily. They take up very little room too. And they can be used for a number of other emergency uses as well.
ReplyDeleteBon Voyage!
Cynthia