Friday, August 10, 2007

Friday Five: Stress Busting Edition



Sally over at the "Revgals" would like us to consider "stress". She's asking us 5 questions and a bonus about how we handle stress in our lives! I wasn't going to play, since I am far too stressed out, but here I am, sucked in on another Friday, while I am handling all the communion services, writing a sermon, prayers and a children's message, and covering as much pastoral care as possible. Stress?!



1. First, and before we start busting stress, what causes you the most stress, is it big things or the small stuff ?
For me, it can be either/or. Sometimes the busy-ness can be a real adrenaline rush, and then one more thing gets added, and that is the straw. Often times it's little stuff. Because when the BIG STUFF comes along, all of a sudden it becomes clear what is important and what is not. Stress is often a result of not being really sure what is most important.


2. Exercise or chocolate for stress busting ( or maybe something else) ?
Potato chips. Walking the dog is a type of exerise that I find very stress-busting. Also, it walks off some of the effects of the potato chips.

3.What is your favourite music to chill out to?

I'm a little prejudiced, but I think that classical guitar is perfect to relax to, especially if played by my husband (in a pinch, though, Christopher Parkening or Segovia will do.) I do still retain a fondness for romantic piano music as well, Chopin or Liszt.


4. Where do you go to chill?

To bookstores, to the library, or for a walk around the lake, one of the fringe benefits of living in my town... lots of beautiful lakes

5. Extrovert or introvert, do you relax at a party, or do you prefer a solitary walk?

Like Mompriest, I like a little of both. Sometimes a party is a good way to get me out of myself (when the stress is inner) and sometimes I need to get away from the noise of it all and think or write or walk.

Bonus- share your favourite stress busting tip!
Here are four bonus stress-busting tips!
1. Singing and playing the piano is very stress-busting for me! Make sure they are songs I can play! Sing at the top of my lungs!
2. Petting the dog, playing with the dog, brushing the dog, scratching the dog's ears, telling the dog what a fabulous, perfect, beautiful specimen of an animal she is (by the way, the picture above is a baby picture).
3. Laughing!!! tell me jokes, take me to a falling-down-on-the-floor slapstick comedy, read me a riotously funny story.
4. Word puzzles,crosswords, acrostics, anagrams.

14 comments:

Lori said...

You have great stress busting tips!!

....and I always knew you were a classic (re: the music)

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

ahhhhh....bookstores are indeed stress busting...better in person but sometimes online window shopping is good also.

RevDrKate said...

Ah the lakes, there is nothing like those walks around them (especially with the perfect dog) for a good stress bust! Miss that a lot sometimes. And another Chopin fan! Good play.

Terri said...

What about julian bream for relaxing guitar music. I have fond memories of an ancient love affair(oh to be young and in love), NYC, and julian bream...sigh...

and I used to LOVE potato chips, but these days the salt gives me bad canker sores (sad, so sad)...so. I've had to resort to exericise and chocolate...

sorry you have to work so hard, the summer schedule of alternating clergy vacations....

Rev SS said...

I'm with you on the walks along the lake ... or Puget Sound ... or ocean. Good play.

Diane M. Roth said...

oh yes Mompriest, Julian Bream too. You know he plays the lute as well...

leah said...

I LOVE the pic--but is that Scout or someone else? Good all-around list, too. Regarding guitars, did you catch my blog of about a month ago on desert spirit's fire after I got to hear our local, internationally renowned guitaristos, Los Romeros? I got to sit first row center, and they are so wonderfully friendly and real!

DogBlogger said...

Lovely play!

And, lovely picture of BaaabyScout!

Cub will have to share her adventure of this evening tomorrow. But we're too tired to give an adequate account right now. Hint: there was a dog-blog-pal meetup!

Diane M. Roth said...

I'm jealous! someday I want to have a dogpal meetup!

David said...

Stress busters:

A trip to Barnes and Noble for coffe and a quick read.

Listening to music with the lights turned down.

Believe it or not...reading blogs.

Anonymous said...

Dogs can definitely help with busting stress (although ours is occasionally a source of it!).

June Butler said...

HGTV and walking. Yes, I find the Home and Garden channel a great stress reliever. I zone out and watch transformation happen in 30 minutes or an hour. Wouldn't it be great if life was like that?

I keep a magazine handy to read during commercials. I may be repeating myself here. If I am, I'm sorry.

zorra said...

What would we do without dogs...and singing! Great play.

Unknown said...

Alright well played. I like your bonuses too.