Tag Archives: stress

Contemplation

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Writing has alluded me for many months. Living through the past several years of stress has taught me, once again, that there is a season for everything. Hence, my absence of putting thoughts onto paper; not that anyone was holding their breath! I wasn’t, but felt the need to record a moment in time when I was blessed by someone’s kindness. This was a time where I needed a man’s closeness.

Struggling with responsibility and ‘coming of age’ in my late teens, I was a bit of an emotional mess even though most didn’t notice (or so I thought). My folks were divorced (no judgement) and I didn’t have a dominant male figure in our home. I was working on my car, a 1970 Roadrunner big block, which needed a gear replaced in the rear differential. With the car jacked up I tried and tried to loosen the nut on the gearbox. I had a cheater bar four foot long and still couldn’t loosen the nut. Super frustrating.

Steve, my next-door neighbor, saw me and came over to ascertain what the issue was. I must have shown my frustration by throwing a few tools while acting out my immaturity. He simply asked if he could help. “Of course”, and “Please do” I happily replied. After explaining my issue he immediately crawled under the rear of the car with wrench and bar in hand. He was a big guy and muscular, and it took him several grunting tries until the nut broke loose. He got a bit dirty and soiled his clean clothes. He didn’t care about that.

Instant relief. I could now finish my replacement project. This was my only source of transportation, and I needed the car for work, dating, errands and just driving around with my buddies. Cars back then were associated with a guy’s identity, and I thought my ride was pretty cool. Ah, the follies of youth.

Steve later invited me over for a cold one and to meet his wife. He offered me a brief period of brotherhood which I had never known. Buddies, yes, but not an older brother. Shortly thereafter he and Ann moved, and I lost a wonderful neighbor. But I never lost the memory of a generous man coming to my aid and treating me like an equal. For some reason beyond my comprehension, I have recently and often thought of Steve and this incident.

I hope he is doing well. Is it possible to love someone without really knowing much about him or her?

I believe so.

The New Green

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Labels can be very helpful like: ‘Poison-Harmful or Fatal if Shallowed’ or ‘Do Not Touch-Extremely Hot’. Besides warnings, labels assist us in identifying food ingredients, movie content, product capabilities, etc. Along with word and number labels, colors help us associate various products and/or classes of things; John Deere Green for instance is easily recognized throughout most of the world.

In this photo, grass and leaves are definitely green. So are the ball and Kermit the Frog. The flux welder and extension cord are green. This T-shirt is green (so are Shamrocks, usually!). The cucumber, Starbucks’ emblem, and stained glass butterfly are also green. What isn’t green is the box. However, if one were color-blind and simply took the message printed on the box as gospel, then the box is green.

Ahh…here, we come upon one example of a label with double meaning (not to be confused with “double entendre”). Although the box is a gray-beige color with near black lettering, the label states otherwise. Yet, we know the Green on the box is referring to recycled materials which, in turn, leave less of a carbon footprint on the environment. But how do we know this to be so?

Repetition, repetition, repetition…

Does repeating something over and over, especially in the public arena, make it true? This question is easily applied to any bias. Unfortunately, in our current culture, bias is causing a great deal of confusion and stress. We need less of both.

Dog Tired

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Did 2019 seem like a blur? So much going on constantly…some of our time was productive, some unproductive and some dysfunctional.

Actually, a lot of dysfunction and chaos which can make for a very stressful life. And, stress can be simply exhausting. Dog tired exhausting , in fact.

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Ever felt like these guys? Of course, we all have. Too tired to press on, to seize the day, to conquer that which must be conquered? 

I offer a snippet of advice for the coming year ahead. Learn from these guys and take a break when you’re worn down and out. Make the time to be still…to meditate and to sleep. Work will always be waiting so no worries there. The cell phone can be turned off. Friends and family can be ignored temporally. Peaceful rest is what is so often needed in our hectic world. I dare you to be dog tired on a regular basis and just flop down and rest. You will be glad you did, and so will others. May 2020 be a wonderful year!

Peace