Tag Archives: stress

Thoughts:

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I’m having a hard time concentrating today, so this is what you’re getting. And you’re getting it about 5 hours later than I intended:

  1. There’s a lot of chatter in the office. It’s not helping today.
  2. Chips & salsa will fix almost any problem, except the thing about not being able to concentrate.
  3. Is there such a thing as a mental nap? And, if so, how can I take one?
  4. I like memoirs… have I mentioned that before? Last night I started reading “Lit” by mary karr while sipping some Moscato. Oh the irony.
  5. The weather will be in the high 80s tomorrow, and I’ll be cashing in my comp-time. Should I pull out that bikini & go to the beach?
  6. The vast majority of the time, I really enjoy working with my husband. Like this moment, where his voice suddenly contributes to the office chatter and it sounds soothing and comforting to my otherwise post-overwhelmination overwhelmed brain.
  7. In the past week, I’ve found out that two friends are expecting. And I’m genuinely happy for them. Excited, actually. I think this means my heart is in a good place with our infertility. In fact, I KNOW it.
  8. Hi mom and dad.

3. How to stop a train

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Considering today’s fast-paced, high-productivity, workaholic lifestyle, we are at great risk of being hit by a train – even if we’re on the right track.

Ok, so, this is not about a real train. A figurative train. A train of stress, fatigue, and even sickness. Plus, if we’re walking with others in this life, the train might hit them too – usually in the form of relational stress and all that blah blah.

About the title of this post. There’s no real way to stop a train, unless you’re the conductor. And, those of us who think they’re in the driver’s seat are the ones who are most likely to get hit by that train.

Let’s review: We can’t stop the train. And we’re not on the train. We’re just on track. It may be the right track; it may be the wrong track. But, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re walking walking walking.

We’re not sitting. We’re not stopping. We’re just walking.

… and here comes the train.

So far this week we’ve focused on having some alone time and getting to know ourselves, but that’s not the point of the Selah. What we’re really supposed to be doing is stopping. Now, as I drag this metaphor out as long as I possibly can, let’s take a minute to stop. Stick our ear to the ground & listen. Or just sit on the tracks to feel the rumble.

Because here’s the point: how close is the train – and do you need to step off the track for a moment to let it pass?

Have you ever stood up straight? (my take on “yoga”)

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I used to think “yoga” was some other religion or something. And, yes, traditional Yoga is. But, when we grab our trendy “yoga” mat and head to the gym, we’re doing an exercise based on poses from traditional Yoga. Breathing. Stretches. Movements. Postures. Most true Yogis would say that what we’re doing is not legitimate Yoga. And I would agree with them. But we still call it “yoga” since the phrase “yoga-cise” just hasn’t caught on.

I got into “yoga” to relieve mental and physical stress. That part of me that used to think “yoga” was a bad idea is still pretty cautious. I’m anti-Harry Potter, for crying out loud.

(This not a post about Harry Potter. Stay with me here.)

(To be clear: I’m not inviting a Harry Potter debate in the comments. Mkay? Love and hugs to you all.)

Anyway, back to the un-spiritual “yoga-cise.”

The stuff I do isn’t related to my subconscious or meditative prayer. The instructors don’t talk about being one with God – or different states of consciousness. They just instruct me to stretch my body. Strengthen my muscles. Get into shape. Control my breathing. Eliminate stress that has been stored up in my shoulders and neck and back, causing me to wake up in pain.

For example, one of the poses is called “Mountain Pose” – standing up – tall – feet flat on the floor – back straight and even – head held high – arms down by your side – slowly breathing.

I could be wrong, but I think an R-rated movie will do more damage to my soul.

I asked my theologian husband if he thought “yoga” was evil:

“It’s exercise… I mean, to get to stand there and balance on one leg? meh. I think everyone gets to do that.”

I kinda see it in a similar light as the issue of “eating food sacrificed to idols” that Paul mentions in First Corinthians… For some, this could compromise their conscience. For others, it may be no big deal.

For me, “yoga” means less 5am backaches and less 5pm headaches…

And, just ask my husband, I’m much more Godly if I’ve gotten a good night’s rest! :)

When five feels like one hundred…

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I knew this day was coming, but I didn’t think it’d happen so soon.

In fact, I’ve done a number of things to prepare for it. And now, even though I’m way ahead of schedule. Even though I have a handful of half-written songs that I could pull from right now. And even though I have some song ideas in the back of my mind that I really believe in.

Even with all that, I’ve hit that place in 2009 where the mere thought of writing (what will likely be a really crappy song) makes me want to cry.

(And, let’s just be honest, everything makes me want to cry right now.)

My heart pounds at the thought of typing this: I don’t want to write.

I don’t want to. I don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t.

I think it’s the swirling spinning stormy combination of all the excitement in my life. blah blah I’m not complaining. I genuinely AM excited about life and what’s before us. I just need a nap. A nap that’ll last about 4 days, because, well, there’s a lot going on. (This is the part where I remind myself that “negative stress affects us in the same way that positive stress does.”)

I’ve got 5 songs staring me in the face. FIVE. And the 95 behind me are doing nothing to contribute to any creative momentum I once had…

The pen feels heavy.

My brain moves like molasses.

These 5 feel as impossible as the 100 I started with.

5 to go.

Piece of cake, right?

Whatever Wednesday 10.28.09

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Is it Wednesday already? wow.

Ok. So we closed last week’s fantastic round of “Whatever Wednesday” with a question from Dan, who is an old college buddy of mine:

What is the biggest sleep “reducer” in your life?

What a question. Seriously. This is the right time in my life to ask that, because I’m loosing quite a bit of sleep… mainly from everything that is on my mind. Moving. Goodbyes. Hellos. And a bit of other stuff that shouldn’t flood the blog world. But, yeah, stuff on my mind.

Now for today’s Whatever Wednesday!

The rules: You answer the last & ask the next. Come back as often as you’d like, until I close the comments tomorrow morning. mkay?

I always start with the first question, so the first commenter has something to work with: What do you do when you have a hard time falling asleep?

So, the first commenter will answer that question, then leave a new question for the next commenter.

GO!