Tag Archives: stress

Two Snippets

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I snapped this photo out the casita window. It looks like this chipmunk is doing push-ups. But in reality he’s eating the blossoms on top of the cactus. Seems like it would be an uncomfortable place to be.

I have the radio on when I drive. There’s often short little snippets of helpful information during breaks of programming. Here’s two I heard this week that stuck with me:

MUSIC
I heard the reason we think music was better in our day is because music holds many strong emotions for us. Our interest and love of popular music peaks around age 20. When we hear music from that time, it triggers memories. That’s why no matter our age, we think music from our teens and 20s are the best. It’s also why we don’t always relate to current music.

FOREST BATH
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice that involves immersing oneself in a forest environment to promote relaxation and well-being by engaging all five senses. It can help reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall health by connecting with nature.

Even if you don’t have a forest near by, like me, five minutes outside can do wonders for stress and health. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, go outside. Focus on what you see, hear, smell and touch. Breathe, relax and nature will restore you. I think that’s why I enjoy my daily walks so much. I’m getting exercise but also connecting to nature.

Have you heard of or tried a Forest Bath before?
Why do you think our music was the best?

Here Comes the Sun!

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pool photo with fountain and fake alligator
My backyard pool view complete with fake gator.

After a cold few months — I guess that’s why it’s called Winter — a bit of warmth from the sun has returned.

It’s the first time I’ve been able to sit in the backyard by the pool in months. We were having highs in the 40s but now it’s in the 70s. It’s still cold at night, but what a treat to take a break in the sun.

I’m having a time with an upcoming fundraiser where I’m contacting magazines, newspaper, radio and TV to drum up coverage with the hope to sell tickets. I’ve started the dreaded tax prep. I have an HOA newsletter due. I have a board meeting to review our progress on the fundraiser…

Then there’s my photography class. Each Monday morning the professor posts a new module which includes reading what he’s posted, plus the textbook, and learning the basics of how my camera works. Then there are quizzes. We haven’t gotten into the fun stuff yet. But to be fair, it’s only week two.

I’m worried I won’t make my deadlines or be able to finish my tasks. Then I woke up in the middle of the night and stayed awake. I turned on Audible with “Travels with Charley” by John Steinbeck. It was somewhat calming, but the story and writing is so beautiful I wanted to listen rather than fall asleep! I’m not finished with this book, but I highly recommend it. Steinbeck travels across the country to discover America with his poodle Charley. His observations about different areas are intriguing.

I’m also reading the “Daughter’s of Shandong” that I heard about from one of my blogger friends. In any case, taking a few minutes to be warmed in the sun, reading, is saving me!

What is your go to to control stress when life gets too busy?

Who was your favorite Beatle? Hint: Mine wrote this song.

Peace and Quiet

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Sonoran Mountain
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve across the street from our neighborhood.

I’ve noticed lately that we have constant noise around us. There may be a TV on in the background or I’m listening to a podcast. For peace and quiet, I head outdoors for a walk or to sit on the zero gravity recliner in the backyard. Then I hear birds, the wind rustling through trees and I decompress.

I was wondering where the term “peace and quiet” came from.

peace and quiet

Tranquillity and freedom from disturbance. This phrase’s redundancy- quiet here does not mean “lack of sound” but “peacefulness”-gives added emphasis. It often is used in wishes for this condition, as in 
All I want is a little peace and quiet. [Mid-1800s]

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/peace+and+quiet

It turns out that peace and quiet is more important than you might think. According to Psych Central, there are seven benefits of silence:

Dialing down the noise may offer significant psychological and mental health advantages.

Do you welcome silence, or do you cringe at the mere idea of sitting with your thoughts?

We live in a noise-filled world, and for some, the constant background clatter helps us tune out any unwanted thoughts that may fill our minds.

For others, spending time in silence can provide a moment for some much-needed clarity. If you fill your free time with noisy activities, you may be missing out on the advantages that silence can provide.

https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-hidden-benefits-of-silence

Some of the benefits listed in the article above included mindfulness, self-awareness, stress relief and stimulating brain cells! I am all for that! I could use all the brain cells being stimulated I can find. I also am not a fan of stress.

Ironically, I was listening to a podcast that promoted peace and quiet. Then I decided to turn it off so I could enjoy some for myself.

Where do you find peace and quiet or peacefulness?

A catty weekend

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Bob cat kitten
I love this bobcat kitten photo. There were two and a momma visiting, but I only got a picture of this one.

I have been anxious about my cat Olive. She got stressed and sick when we went out of town. She was doing better after her visit to the vet, but on Friday she stopped eating and was curled into a ball hiding under the bed. Although we were giving her laxative twice a day, nothing was moving. I wrote about Olive last week HERE.

I drove to a pet food store and bought a variety of treats and wet food for her. Something to entice her to eat. I bought canned salmon, sardines and anchovies at the grocery store.

She turned her nose up at all my treats and Saturday she refused to eat. But finally things were working for her in the litter box. Also, she wasn’t drinking any water and she felt bony, thin and dehydrated.

My daughter called and said not eating for two days was a bad sign. I told her our vet wasn’t open on the weekend. She suggested I find a pet ER. I couldn’t find once close by. But I read an article online about how to get your cat to eat.

It said to place small amounts of food in several places around the house. Also to put some food on your finger and rub it on her gums.

I woke up Sunday morning to see that two of the containers of food were almost gone. Now she’s no longer hiding but sitting on the throw rug watching birds through the window. She looks alert. She looks like she on the mend.

I can’t tell you how relieved I am!

In my opinion, the only thing worse than having sick pets and not knowing what is wrong, is having sick children. What are your thoughts?

Not again!

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A sea lion in distress at the beach.

The other day, we were on our evening beach walk when we first saw the sea lion above. I noticed a woman standing near the sea lion. The sea lion would alternate sitting up and lying down. (I first wrote laying down — but I fixed it. Lie and lay have stumped me for years.)

We sat and watched the sea lion struggle to get back into the ocean. She would bob her head up and down while sitting up. Two summers ago, we saw a number of sea lions on the beach in distress. They did the same thing as this one. I called the hotline for marine animals and told them the location of the sea lion.

Then there were three women standing by the sea lion. I walked to the water’s edge to tell them to keep their distance and not to get any closer to the sea lion. I had learned that people and dogs can stress sick sea lions to death!

When I approached the women, I noticed one was wearing a uniform from the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute. That’s who I had called. So, they were already aware. I asked the volunteer if the sea lion was suffering from the same issue that we saw a few years ago. She said yes, and that she was stationed to keep people and dogs away and to observe until sunset. She said they weren’t doing any rescues that night.

I wrote about sea lions HERE and HERE two summers ago. The second link has a video of a sea lion which shows you how they move when affected with Domoic Acid poisoning.

Here’s an excerpt:

The volunteer from the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute explained that the sea lion was suffering from Domoic Acid poisoning, which is caused by algae bloom.

My husband said that algae bloom happens every year. Isn’t that a normal thing? Wouldn’t sea lions be used to it?

She said they were inundated with calls about sick sea lions along the coast and that the Domoic Acid poisoning could be fatal. The volunteers were out observing the sea lions from sunrise to sunset along the beaches. Apparently stress could make the illness worse. She was standing on the beach all day to keep people and dogs away from the sick sea lion.

The volunteer yesterday explained that Domoic Acid poisoning occurs when fish eat the plankton, which isn’t toxic to them. Then the sea lions eat the fish and they get sick.

It was sad to see the sea lion suffering. It was still on beach when we left with the volunteer standing near. On the bright side, she said they’ve had very few Domoic calls this year, unlike two years ago.

Do you confuse Lie and Lay? How about effect and affect? Any others?

What do you think about people approaching a sea lion on the beach? I watched it happen two summers ago, people ignoring the yellow crime tape and signs to stay away.

Being in the moment

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This cardinal paid a visit to my Birdbuddy yesterday. He was fascinated by the camera.

I have struggled this week. Maybe it’s because it was a three-day weekend, we had guests and I got really, really tired. I think our eight-mile hike had something to do with that. Plus, my guests are always on the go and don’t stop to relax. Personally, I need some downtime and quiet.

I had hardly anything scheduled this week. Only a meeting about my HOA newsletter and a zoom call. You’d think I could relax and enjoy my days and evenings. Instead, I felt anxiety. I tend to be a worry wort.

Next week, I have a ton of things to do, appointments, lunches, and I’m throwing a belated birthday party for my husband. I spent this week worrying about all I have to do next week.

Walks and birdwatching help me to relax. But I was thinking if I was being present in the moment, I wouldn’t be anxious about next week.

How do you focus on being in the moment?

Watch as the cardinal pecks at the camera. After the cardinal leaves you can turn off the video 😊

Out of sorts

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Sunrise on a cloudy morning.

I woke up Sunday morning feeling off. There are a bunch of things on my mind.

First, my daughter-in-law who was approved for disability until the end of March, was cut off from it out of the blue. Now my son and DIL have to fight the system to get it reinstated.

Next, she was informed by her job through email that they are exploring termination because her 12 weeks of leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act has ended. I don’t think that is legal, because cancer is protected under ADA. The doctor gave her leave of absence until her chemo treatments are done.

It’s so frustrating to me that they have this added stress. It’s unnecessary and wrong and they shouldn’t have to deal with these issues while she’s undergoing her last few months of chemo.

We had a house guest over the weekend. He was a childhood friend of my husband’s and they were roommates when we first got together. I thought he was staying with us for a few days, but he left early Sunday morning after arriving the afternoon before.

Finally, we have a tenant who hasn’t paid rent and it was due January 1. He’s strung my husband along with excuses and promises to pay and finally admitted yesterday morning that he doesn’t have the money. This is the same house where we had problems — with possible illegal activity. I wrote about it HERE.

What sort of things make you feel out of sorts?