Clear the Mechanism

A co-worker of mine asked me today if I was one of those people that could "shut off" my mind when there was an issue with my relationship or anywhere else in my life. Until recently, she and I have only had a work relationship via telephone so she is basically a stranger to me, which was made evident by this question.
I am NOT one of those people that can just clear out my mind and let it all go. There is a Kevin Costner movie called "For the Love of the Game", where he was a pitcher remembering his life while pitching a game of baseball. When he took the mound, there would be all this noise from the crowd. Fans yelling in praise of him or against him. He would stand still and say, "Clear the Mechanism". It was his process for blocking out all the crowd garbage so that he could concentrate. I am trying to learn that there are some things that simply aren't worth worrying with such as silly details that plague my day. Now, I make a comment out loud if a patient irritates me, smile at Becca, and then try to put it out of my mind. It won't make any huge difference in a day or so. This is the philosophy. Will this "whatever" matter to me in the morning, or the next afternoon, or the next day, or the next week? If the answer is no, move on.
Yesterday on the news they reported the death of former NBA star Lorenzen Wright. He was shot over a dozen times and left for dead. How sad for his family and friends to experience such a tragedy. It is in these heart wrenching moments, that I realize my own mortality and also try to remember to place things in perspective. I want so much for my mind to slow down and for it to not worry about things that are out of my control. I have a copy of the Serenity Prayer on my desk at work and it would seem I need to take it to memory.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and stays out of the heat. I can not hardly wait till Saturday and Sunday arrives when I can get back into the pool and out in the sun. Take care everyone.

Flight or Fight

Stress.

I have read so much stuff over the years about how to manage day-to-day stress, but I am still not quite there yet. Everyone has some stresses in their lives and are trying to cope with them in their own ways, but what are the correct ways?

I went on a search to find out details about this word "stress" and how it effects our bodies on a short-term and a long term basis. Folks, the results weren't pretty. Some studies showed that stress is one of the main factors in behavioral issues that lead to excessive alcohol consumption to the point of addiction, smoking, and under/over eating. I personally have never smoked a cigarette a day in my life, but eating and drinking are two major escapes in my daily life. I need to work on those.

Studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic confirm that long-term exposure to stress can cause heart disease as well. An increase in heart rate and blood pressure for long periods of time can thicken arterial walls. As stress continues and the heart demands oxygenated blood, these thickened arterial walls may prevent adequate blood flow needed to feed the heart, resulting in a heart attack. Stress, also damages the immune system and autoimmune responses in our body. This can result in increased cold frequency as well as worsening or causing other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Very recently, I have begun a battle with my blood pressure. I have learned, with my mother's voice in my head, to ask myself when I purchase food anywhere, "how much sodium is in it?" There are so many foods that contain my favorite spice that was ever invented, salt. I LOVE salt. If there was a stronger emotion for a flavor enhancer I would use it now, but I have had to let go of so much of my beloved salt for the sake of my health and body. When my blood pressure surges, my whole body suffers. My vision becomes worse, my mood decreases rapidly, I have a headache (which I rarely experience), and I feel so sluggish.

There are so many articles out there about how to manage stress in your lives that I could spend years reading them, but I think it boils down to just a few small things. I am trying desperately to make some positive changes in my life.

Exercise. There is so much research on how even just a little bit of exercise can increase your overall attitude. I have been implementing this act here lately and I can definitely say that the benefits are evident.

Whatever the situation, try to see it from an outside perception. Recently, this helped me out tremendously deal with a major issue in my life. I was all wrapped up in how I felt about it, but once I took a breath and stepped back I realized that it may look completely different from the other side of things.

Set priorities and small goals. Don't overwhelm yourself with the big picture. This one is a tough one for me. Maybe I should analyze the whole "small achievements" mentality. It may help my overall view of my own accomplishments.

Avoid extremes. (Enough said)

Take control of the situation. I am going to write this on my hand or put it somewhere that I can view it constantly. I need to be more of a take action type of person instead of a victim. I am a strong willed person that usually gets her way. I like to be in control for the most part, so why wouldn't I take control of my own stress.

Relaxation. Clearing my mind of noise or stressful thinking will be something that I have to pray about. I tend to keep the wheels turning in my brain 24-7 at 90 mph. I don't think when I am awake that the thinking ever stops, slows, or wanes. My thoughts ensconce all topics and situations constantly. Why? I am not quite sure, but I want to be able to focus more clearly and precisely now. Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga are excellent ideas for this.

Look on the BRIGHTER side of life. This one is not research rooted. It's my new motto. I want so much to be one of those happy people that I bump into and think, "Wow I just love being in that person's presence" I am the happiest that I have ever been in my adult life. I feel like actually laughing at almost anything these days. When I hop into my car in the afternoon and crank up that radio for the drive home, I am euphoric. I know that I am on my way to a happy place where everybody loves everybody. I deserve this time to be content before other stresses come creeping into our little life.

Life is all about reaction they say, so I am going to learn to truly understand my flight or fight hormones and know that the first impulse is not always the best one. Everything does happen for a reason even if sometimes that reason is to simply clear the haze and force you to open your eyes.
How about all of you and your stresses, are there some tactics you use that could help me out?

Shipping Hope

Is this the end of the world as we know it?

What is the matter with a government that would allow this outrage with BP's oil spill to continue?

We have an already crumbling economy on our hands with thousands of people out of work or soon to be. We have a country divided by politics, beliefs, fear, and debt.

We have a country where 13-17% of our population is living in poverty. This fact is beyond sad, however, it is projected to raise over the next 10 years to 40%! So on the path that we are headed down, in approximately 10 years a little less than half of Americans will be existing in poverty. The majority of the families in the United States live well above their financial means and are accumulating debt daily without restraint. Why wouldn't they? Our own federal government stands on this very principal. At this time, the national debt clock stands at $13 trillion and ticking.

Education is eroding. Maybe this is the real problem, we now are beginning to release people into the world who do not really understand government or any other speciality without Google to aide them. Our testing scores are lagging behind the majority of other countries now. Once one of the most competitive nations with the "brightest and the best", now are having to examine the cracks in the educational system. Most reports are stating that the schools are over populated, lack of funds, little or out-dated resources, and many other issues. This is where our attention needs to be right now because this problem is equal to our economic crisis.

I was outraged recently to learned that BP and other oil companies are tax subsidized which means they exist by the tax payers money of this country even though their corporate headquarters is located in Switzerland so that they themselves can avoid paying U.S. taxes. I am confused as to why this is okay, but I assume there is a group of highly educated individuals that have examined this fact. (Maybe) This oil spill is the worst in the history of... THE WORLD. Not America, not our generation, but ever! Why are we being so passive about this?

My co-worker, Becca, has been commenting on wanting to go and help with this tragedy. I would love to help as well, but I don't really know where to start. It makes my insides hurt when I see those pictures and hear the stories about all the animals that are dying due to the sudden changes their environment is undergoing. The other thought and prayer I send up is for those that depend on tourist season. I know that so many are avoiding that area this summer for fear of it interfering with their vacations. I have seen multiple commercials trying to calm the fears of that, but I don't think it is working. So sad for the people of the Gulf who are still recovering from previous natural disasters.

Through all of this darkness, I was quite touched and very impressed by FedEx, who basically jumped right in there to help. Right now it is mission, save the sea turtle eggs. They are going to relocate thousands of eggs, that are in the direct pathway of the disaster, to a facility elsewhere to be incubated and cared for. If they are left in their nests they are certain to perish, but with the help of FedEx they have a fighting chance to hatch and live.

 This company has, in my opinion, always rose to the occasion during a time of crisis. We need a government like this company that gives back to it's people and cares as though they are individuals.

Way to go FedEx! For election 2012, Let's elect Fred Smith for President!