Put Down That Load! February 11, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Life Balance.trackback
A lecturer on stress management raised a pitcher of margaritas into the air, then asked her audience, “How heavy is this pitcher?”
The audience called out answers ranging from four to eight pounds.
The lecturer replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter as much as the relative weight.
“The longer you try to hold it up, the heavier it feels:
* Holding it for a minute is no problem.
* After an hour, your arm will ache.
* If you try to hold it all day, you’ll need an ambulance.”
As the audience considered her remarks, she continued: “In each case, the absolute weight remains the same, but the longer we hold it up, the heavier the relative weight becomes. The same is true with stress.”
“If we carry our burdens around all the time, they become heavier and heavier and we become more and more fatigued. We need to put our cares and concerns down once in a while to give ourselves a chance to recharge.”
With that, she poured herself a margarita, took a sip, and added, “Once we’re refreshed and recharged, we can carry our burdens more easily.”
Aah . . . that’s better!
Great advice! Whatever burdens you’re carrying right now, put them down and give yourself a chance to recharge. Take a mental health break.
Margaritas optional.
Inspiration: e-mail from unknown author
Related posts: Your Wheelbarrow Of Woe * Just Let Go * Ordinary Miracles
Spirit Lights The Way 
Well said! What a relief when we let things go!
Tigger just “let things go” all over the floor . . . “bye bye breakfast.” 😐
I am going to “put down my load” and go to water aerobics.
Oh no, poor Tigger! Hope he’s feeling better…and you, too.
Thanks, Suzi. He seemed fine the rest of the day ~ probably just ate too much too fast and his tummy pressed *EJECT*
You had me at margarita! They are predicting 8 to 12 inches of snow here tomorrow. Boogers!
ACK! More snow and more snow and more snow. This winter has been a doozy . . . dropping one “load” after another.
Hope your Starbucks and the occasional Margarita see you through to Spring.
I’m also feeling very depressed by all the snow. However, yesterday I made myself a macaroni dinner of penne rigate, with meatballs, tomato sauce and spicy seasoning, and felt much better afterward. There is more snow predicted for Thursday, but as long as I have the mararoni, meatballs, sauce and seasoning in the house, I’ll be able to handle the depression.
Best of luck weathering the coming storm, William. This winter has been relentless in most parts of the country.
Cool analogy! Although, as an eBay seller, I doubt the folks at the post office would be interested in a philosophical take on “relative weight.”
“But really Mr. Postman, that package might SEEM like 4 pounds, but I’m in a good mood today, so it only feels like 10 ounces.”
😉
Mr. Postman will feel better AFTER you offer him a margarita!
The snow has reached me too tonight. An evening to bunker down, forget my woes and watch a movie!
Enjoy your movie. Hope you have a cozy fire to keep you company, GM.
Yes, Nancy, The fire was warm, glowing and flickering.
Awesome! Fires are convivial companions.
Optional? Never, in New Mexico. Perhaps this is why the expression “manana” is a way of life here. 🙂
Never put off until “manana” what you can put off until the day AFTER “manana.”
Pity not all stresses are so delicious to imbibe 🙂 But, it’s true, the cortisol levels continue to rises, and overload the response and immune systems.
And sometimes it doesn’t take all that much to “set us off” ~ real or imagined, chronic stress is a game changer.
Here’s to enjoying a little deliciousness every day!
I like advice that comes with an easy-to-remember demonstration. That’s a good one. It also applies to the stress on your neck and shoulders if you sit at the computer too long. I’ve gotta go move around a bit now.
Yes! Perfect example, Nicki. Sitting in front of the computer for too long wreaks havoc on our neck and shoulders. Enjoy your S~T~R~E~T~C~H!
Every now and then I really do just have to tell myself to STOP. I can feel myself picking up a few burdens I don’t need at all. I think the secret is paying attention to when we feel that heaviness, and then quickly taking it off our shoulders and laying it aside. It’s interesting to me that somehow i didn’t learn earlier in life that I have the power to do that! Better now then never. 🙂
It’s amazing what S~L~O~W learners we can be. I’m learning things NOW that would have benefited me back THEN.
Brilliant, Nancy. Now – time for a margarita…;)
Here’s to Happy Hour! (I’ll pour.)
Great advice! Now if only we could kick back and sip all of our weighty burdens 🙂
Sometimes “sipping” wouldn’t be enough . . . we’ll need to CHUG!