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Pragmatist
Pragmatist

Feeling stressed?
Wed Feb 09 2005

Try this exercise from tonight's JLI class:

Try this at least once in the following week:

When a situation is becoming over-demanding (for example, you're late for an appointment, both your LAN phone and your cell are ringing, you have a headache and the dinner is burning and your kid got sent home from school for getting in a fight), rebel. Sit down on a chair and do nothing.
Don't escape. Just rebel. Sit and take charge of the situation by doing nothing. Incubate.
If a little voice inside you asks you, What are you doing? Don't you realize your world is demanding you do something and do it right now?"
Answer, "The world is not my master. I will take care of it when I am good and ready to take care of it. Until then, the world will have to wait."
In fact, a slogan of many emergency rooms goes, "Don't just do something, stand there!" As the people who work there put it, if you just do something, you may end up killing someone. To save lives, stand and think first.

The class actually was on male-female relationships, and the above really doesn't relate in any way to the lesson, but it sure sounds like good advice.

*********
On to my day.

Got Harry to the surgeon and me to the therapist while Harry was having his eye operation. Got him settled down at home, with someone who will stay with him for 24 hours, and go over doctor's orders with her. I called him this evening and he said he felt wonderful. So he'll be taking his antibiotic, can't lift anything, can't bend over, and for heaven's sake, don't sneeze. Oh, yeah, and he can't blow his nose for the next three days. He has a follow-up appointment on Valentines Day. Should I take him a rose and a box of chocolates?

I've had a nagging pain all day. No ouchie-ouchie, but just ... there. The therapist says I'm improving, and I have to take his word for it. The therapy feels so good I'd go every day, but I probably wouldn't heal any faster.

I see my doctor tomorrow for a post-stroke checkup. I hope he'll take me off one of the blood pressure medications. I take so darned many pills, I'm a walking pharmacy.

It's been a long and busy day, and I'm ready for bed.

Nitey-night.

7 Comments
  • From:
    MissTick (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Feb 09 2005
    that's a very good advise indeed. I'd say even more: now I've realised that I've been doing exactly the same, when in stress situations, just out of my gut's feeling...I can confirm: it sure does help a lot to stop for a split moment and take a deep breath. Wise words. I think in relationships this also works just fine, btw ;-)
  • From:
    Calichef (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Feb 09 2005
    That is very good advice! I can't tell you how many times in restaurant kitchens things would have turned out better and faster if I had been allowed to just think for a moment instead of being yelled at to "Move, move, MOVE!!!" Then a few minutes later when whatever jerk was in charge noticed that an order was forgotten, I got yelled at again! I said, "Look, if you would just have allowed me a moment to think, I would have realized that (pizza, burger, crab cake, etc...) needed to be made, but no, that would have meant you didn't get to jump my ass-- AGAIN." Restuarant work is hard, and employers merciless (generally speaking.) I miss the work, but not the horrible employers.

    Sounds like you are feeling considerably better, too. Good to hear!

    Love,
    ~Cali
  • From:
    Idioglossia (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Feb 09 2005
    hey chaya
    thanks as ever for all your advice and comments
    i know just another man is a bad idea... i'm working on finding more productive and meaningful ways to move on *sigh*
    i loved that exercise you've described
    makes so much sense, and can be applied to any stressful situation, eh

    thanks again for all the concern (((tight squeeeze))) i really hope the pain eases up soon, it troubles me to hear of you uncomfortable

    much, much love
    idioglossia
  • From:
    Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Feb 09 2005
    I know about taking all those pills. My mom takes a lot too. I wonder what people did 30 yrs ago?
    They didn't have pills for every single thing. Weren't even names for half the syndromes they have now come up with and pills for.. I am all for staying alive though. so take your pills
    Praying for a great post-stroke report
    Hugs to you
    now and always
    PEG
  • From:
    Bubbles1956 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Feb 10 2005
    A walking pharmacy, lol. I sure hope you feel better. The physical therapy is awesome for sure. The massages really do help with the pain if you can get a 30 minute every other week and then once a month. I hate the expense but I can't do my job if I don't go once a month. The pain is minimal and usually I don't have any if I am faithful with exercises and the massage.
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Feb 10 2005
    Very good advice, stress effects some in strange ways. Thinking before action is always good.
    Having served on many Boards it was a learning lesson to watch how others reacted in a heated item and some had soft but right to to bottom of issue that most always cut the muddy water and clamed the storm.
    If I were Harry a couple Krispy dougnuts would hit the spot.

  • From:
    TraumaMama (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Feb 11 2005
    I have enjoyed catching up with you. Glad to hear your pain is easing up. Chronic pain is terrible. It a bad thing to have the day revolve around one's pain level. I hope it continues to ease up.
    HUGS
    Sue