Stress!

(Written Saturday 9/3/2022)

I hear many folks are having issues with stress these days and I have some words of advice from my own experience that help you, especially after misplacing my phone Friday evening and still being unable to get it, 12 hours later...

First of all, read or watch the news. This really helps with stress: I find I just can't build up that internal anxiety and tension without reading the latest news or at least thinking about it. Being cut off from it is highly destructive to my distress levels.

Avoid dogs! Especially playing free on the beach! After all, their joy and in-the-moment existence, let alone an affectionate smile at you as you scratch a back, takes one from thinking about future and past and puts one in the present. Here is a photo of Monty crashing a stranger's stress: 

Do NOT talk to strangers! Striking up a conversation with strangers, ESPECIALLY if it quickly degenerates to smiles or even laughter, has been shown to damage one's feelings of stress.

Avoid all physical contact, especially hugs. Even brief hugs can lead to damage to the stress edifice. Don't risk it!

Make sure to sit still and think about all your troubles, all the ways that things may go wrong, all the things that you have avoided on your lists. Do not sit still with your coffee and watch the glory of a sunrise. 

Anyway, I hope this advice is helpful. I'm afraid it may be too late for me, however. Monty just hopped into my lap and went belly-up for attention 

I've misplaced my phone and can't get the news, I NEED to go ashore for Monty's beach time and will undoubtedly watch dogs and meet strangers (although I'm getting to know them, so they aren't really strangers now). AND I even get occasional hugs, as I did when taking my friends Mike and Denise out sailing yesterday! My stress may be doomed (unless I find my phone soon): save yourselves from my fate!