Every day we see stories on the news about someone who ‘broke’ went off the trolley, and exploded into a rage. Years back this was an exceptional happening. Today it is commonplace. People are edgy, stressed, frustrated, hurting, left behind, and discouraged. It’s the world we live in now.
You get up feeling like you didn’t sleep well (that’s because you didn’t). Your jaw is sore from grinding your teeth. Your stomach hurts but you still have several cups of coffee to get you started. Your stomach growls and says it’s getting too much acid. Then it’s off to the road to work and other drivers are waiting to cut you off and give you the finger for not moving fast enough. Your lumbar spine is pinching, telling you that your back is fed up with all this stress. When a sports car cuts you off as you exit the freeway, you wish you had a loaded Glock you could use to teach that smart ass a lesson. Get in my way, make my day.
There are so many parts of life pressing on our lives, demanding attention, that we feel we are playing a never ending game of catch up. If you aren’t multi tasking, you are left behind. If you aren’t using a blackberry and cellphone, keeping in touch 24-7, you are in danger of being considered obsolete.
If it’s not work, it’s the demands of your family. If you have kids, you know that it’s a whole different scenario than when you grew up. They need computers, their own cell phones, transportation, clothes which are trendy, and more of your time. Kids’ activities, sports, and recreation can keep you moving non stop, and there you are on the road again, wishing you had that Glock.
It used to be that you could come home from work, sit in your favorite chair, read the paper, watch the news, and play with the dog. Now you need to go to the grocery because you forgot to go yesterday. Again, into the car, thinking of your Glock, and waiting in line to check out while another clerk opens a new lane and the person in back of you runs to be first in line ahead of you.
It’s getting to be just a matter of survival rather than relaxation. Looney behavior becomes the norm. Everyone has a short fuse and is ready to make their anger known. Being functional means being able to nagivate the day without coming apart. Tranquilizers and anti depressants are billion dollar industries.
Anxiety is now embedded in our lives. When the economy starts to take a turn for the worse as has happened recently with the housing market bust, jobs are lost, and profits are gone. What happens then? The liquor stores do big business as does the pharmaceutical industry. We numb ourselves and self medicate as best we can.
Are you really happy and satisfied with your life today? Can you relax, enjoy activities, and go to sleep without taking something to knock you out? Do you like your job and love your spouse and kids? If not you are really in trouble. You absolutely have to have some good things to hold on to and carry you through the stress. You need pleasure to balance out the daily frustration which is inevitable.
Sometimes you have to take stock of your life and decide what negative parts you can eliminate. If your job is tearing you apart, at least consider looking for a different one. If your marriage sucks, work on it or consider making a change. If you hate the way you look, take steps to improve your appearance. Take the weight off, get some hair dye for that gray hair, and make time for exercise.
Life is short, my friends. People who are at the edge of death do not talk about how they wish they had been run more ragged and grabbed more responsibility. I remember talking to a dear friend who was dying a year ago and he said that he wished he had spent more time traveling and visiting places he had dreamed of rather than working 60 hours every week. It was so sad to listen to him regretting what he had done and what he had not done.
Can’t take it anymore? Make changes NOW. Simplify, say ‘no’ sometimes, avoid fast foods, vow to avoid any serious issues after 7:00pm, don’t postpone fun, schedule time to exercise, play with your dog and kids, work on improving your habits (hint, hint, that means avoiding cigarettes , booze, and drugs), and tell people you love that you do. Don’t be a time bomb walking because you are the most likely to get hurt in the blast.
Keep the donations coming in , folks. Your help and gratitude helps keep us doing our best to help you with real life problems. Thanks.
Your Friend, Sharon.
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