November 6, 2024, is International Stress Awareness Day

The Sun Always Rises – Gabriola Island Nov 5 2024

There is something ironic about today being International Stress Day. Some of my readers from around the world have reported inordinate amounts of stress and bewilderment. The question is, what can we do when the stress that is causing us trouble is totally out of our control?

There is no pat answer, and it is different for each person. However, I always start with a bit of tenderness and slow time. Take this morning—a hot cup of coffee, quiet time, a few emails from old friends, and eventually, a hug from a lovely human being.

And I always get outdoors even when I don’t know what to do next. Walking is my best stress reducer and problem solver. Something happens when I walk along the canal or the streets of my neighbourhood and pay attention to all that “falling” beauty on the branches and the ground.

(Today, I had to share this second glorious photo from Gabriola, which shows the consequence of wind and falling leaves. Thank you, Gottfried.

Morning Walk

My morning walk took me into old Ottawa South, a neighbourhood separated from mine by an arched bridge. I loved that walk, especially the view from the bridge.

I then had an idea to spend part of this day looking for beauty—indoors as well as out. So my browsing began—in and out of all these lovely little independent shops: flowers, art, design, gifts, books, baker, gelato…especially the ones that appealed to me at curbside.

The enjoyment began as I looked, touched, admired, and had lovely conversations with the owners and staff. Interacting with others whose company we enjoy is reviving.

By the time I returned home, I still had no better perspective, but I had given myself a mental and emotional break. I had nourished my brain and heart with beauty and warm conversations, and I also purchased a beautiful bar of English soap milled in the Sussex countryside with a perfect scent of wild lime and lemongrass.

I concluded that soap served three purposes: attractive packaging, aroma therapy, and, ultimately, fresh-smelling skin. It has been a long time since I splurged on a luxury soap bar. Yet, today, it was a perfectly acceptable response to a stressful day, and I relished the purchase.

There are many books, courses, and experts on stress, and I am not one of the latter. I simply do my best to determine what is controllable by me and what is not. Then, I look at things I can do. I know that others play a huge role. And that some kind of action is one of the best antidotes to stress. Gardening is a favourite, as is art and music. These are many things where you can get in the zone and emerge refreshed in spirit even if tired in body.

Here is the final word for this tiny missive today. It comes from Joe Primo the CEO of Gratefulness. org and goes like this.

“Grateful living is the stance we take when confronting adversity. It is the deep knowledge that what is before us may not be desired, but we can take control of ourselves despite the chaos around us.”

Notes:

1:) Waves, the quote at the beginning, was a gift from a dear friend. She suggested that when we see each other riding the waves, we can wave to each other and cheer each other on. So I pass that suggestion on to you. When we encounter each other out there in our little red leaky boats, doing what we can, let’s give a shout-out and a wave.

2:) We never know the end of a story in advance. When I was in Japan, on the first evening between the airport and our hotel, I left my old but favourite jacket on the 90-minute train ride. Sometime in the early morning, I awoke, realizing precisely what I had done. Overall, I am a pretty cool cucumber, but this stressed me out. I imagined all kinds of unhappy endings simply because I had lost my jacket. (Forgive me, ok? It was after a long flight and a sleepless night, so I wasn’t at my best.) I did remember that we were in Japan, the world’s largest city and I knew that the Japanese were famous for restoring lost goods.

So, with additional encouragement from my daughter, we went back to the train station after breakfast, inquired, and, to make a wonderful story shorter, my jacket was found buttoned, folded, and safely tucked away in a secure area. I easily retrieved it with the gracious help of an agent by showing my passport, a picture of the jacket, and signing a form—a deep deep bow to the lost and found department of Japan Rail.

3:) Stress and anxiety are never over once and for all. My friend Oliver Burkeman writes, “Meaning and joy have to be found right in the middle of it if they’re ever to be found at all.”

4:) With an armload of gratitude to all of you for your time, kindness and companionship. See you next week. Best wishes, Trudy