Relaxtion method

[The Wizard of BC]

Raphael,

I don't know if it will work for you, but my sanity time is the time I spend volunteering at the Royal BC Museum. I find that the visitors want so badly to learn and experience that giving of myself to others is very relaxing. Exhausting but mind smoothing.
I'm away from the shop and away from the house. I have friends there that I only meet once a week.
And the look on a visitors face when all of a sudden, something I said makes their visit worth the admission price. You can't buy that feeling. If you could, it would be illegal.
Big Brothers, Scouts, visit an old folks home. Anything to give a small piece of yourself to others. For no other reason than "Darn, that feels good!"
I've met you. You have a lot to offer.

[Gaisgeil]

Not saying these would work for you, but they do for me.

Go buy some really GOOD tea, learn how to make it right. Make yourself some tea, sit outside somewhere serene, back yard, anything would do and just try to appreciate what you've got and the time you have being alive.

Get a pet and really pour your love into it, if it's a dog, walk it, feed it, play with it, teach it.

Drum rudiments. This is an every day one for me. I just sit there with a practice pad and do simple rudiments in time and get lost in the rhythm of it.

Get lost in a book.

Go for a long walk/hike in a natural environment.

You said no alcohol, so I guess you could modify this one but meeting with friends and having a pint and some laughs is very relaxing to me.

[Dirka Skene]

Not saying these would work for you, but they do for me.

Go buy some really GOOD tea, learn how to make it right. Make yourself some tea, sit outside somewhere serene, back yard, anything would do and just try to appreciate what you've got and the time you have being alive.

Get a pet and really pour your love into it, if it's a dog, walk it, feed it, play with it, teach it.

Drum rudiments. This is an every day one for me. I just sit there with a practice pad and do simple rudiments in time and get lost in the rhythm of it.

Get lost in a book.

Go for a long walk/hike in a natural environment.

You said no alcohol, so I guess you could modify this one but meeting with friends and having a pint and some laughs is very relaxing to me.

I'd make tea if I didn't have to wear a hard hat to open the cabinets to get a pot to make it in. There is no serene spot anywhere near this house. It's all clutter, especially the back yard. Darn the pack rats that I live with!

Don't want any pets. This house it too cluttered to have anything else under your feet.

I keep a headache, drums would only make it worse.

I can't focus enough to read. I'm too stressed out to follow the story line.

The only natural environment close by (Arkabutla Lake) is always packed with "riff raff."

Alcohol makes me not care. I'm all for going out and having a few beers. Problem is, I have to come home. I need to move.

[Panache]

Raphael,

I find gardening to be very relaxing.

I can sit za zen, I can breathe deeply and slowly, but I can't just sit there and meditate, I've too much nervous energy. But, if I put myself outside and weed, rake, trim, plant, and otherwise keep myself occupied I find my thoughts slipping away and then I'm just there in that moment. Maybe it's that there really isn't any end result to a garden, it's a process.

Sorry things are stressful for you right now.

Cheers

Panache

[Weasel Mender]

Dread,
Well done!!! I am going through a very stressful time myself. Stress is the bodys reaction to your not pounding the:crap: out of someone who needs it done badly. Again well done. Myself I just spent an hour with my bow imagining the target was my Boss, nice groups, 1 "Robinhood" so I quit my arrows are $9.00 each

[way2fractious]

Raphael, you posted:

09-04-2006, 04:55 PM
Kilted Elder Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The Best place on Earth
Posts: 1,591

...
I am still passionate about it [ie., Scotland, Scottish culture, kilts, etc.] It has been a life long fascination. I intend to learn more about it, and I would like to hand sew [a kilt] in the future.

Hey, my friend, perhaps you should take a couple more days off in June and sign up for the kiltmaking class in Victoria. There you will be introduced to a most wonderful relaxation tool - traditional kiltmaking. In approximately 40 hours you will hand sew a kilt, and learn the details necessary to spend countless more hours, later in life, making countless more kilts.

Although I look forward to touring Victoria on bikes with you, I could certainly go it alone while you learn another significant stress-reduction activity. See you in June, regardless.

w2f

[Dreadbelly]

It is not his fault my wife is sick... Not his fault everything is crazy. Not his fault that if I get a job I might lose my home and my wife might lose her healthcare and disability coverage. Not his fault that my life is very confusing right now and I don't know what to do.

No, the only thing he did wrong was pop off and run his mouth. Because he's an idiot. He went on with his life blissfully unaware that for a few seconds, he was entirely to close to mortal danger.

I would have had no excuse, and it certainly wouldn't be praiseworthy.

[Kilted KT]

hmm..

teaching children ( pretty much anything)

hiking (alone or with people)

reading Basho under a tree in the warm sun ( or in the shade if it is too hot where you are)

wading in a mountain lake or stream in the springtime (wear a UK, they won't get ruined)

and..( for the adrenaline junkies out there) doing anything that involves going really fast or exerting a whole lot of energy...all while kilted! ( kilted soccer outside is extremely relaxing)

[KiltedBill]

I used to practice Aikido years ago. When one of us in the dojo had a really bad day, they'd usually ask to be thrown "a little extra" that night. It sounds really strange, but there's something about hitting the mat that removes stress from the body and clears the mind.

I miss it. A lot.

[Arlen]

I would have had no excuse, and it certainly wouldn't be praiseworthy.

Perhaps not, but your self-control and humanity in the face of all of this certainly are praiseworthy.
I can't imagine how stressed out and sad you must be right now, but you are a good person. And you deserve kudos.