Reactionary

I read the news because I like to be informed. I read the news (chiefly the NYT) because I try to be a responsible citizen even if I do my utmost to avoid jury duty. I have railed against the futility and foolishness in allowing your psyche to be affected by outside influences. But I have to admit the barrage of bad news has been bogging me down lately (juxtaposed as it is against my currently severe to moderate life stresses).

The stress to save money also strangles the local economy. I don’t want my neighborhood, as graced with small businesses as it is, to suffer either. I’m up against a ticking time bomb of schooling and money with my employer and now have to rush to finish a program I should theoretically have much more time to finsh. The stress makes it hard to concentrate and I’m retaining even less than I would normally. My apartment is a complete mess and I spent yesterday morning moving my reading chair that’s much too big out of my bedroom where it really doesn’t fit into the living room where it only kind of doesn’t fit. Mess and things that look bad makes me crazy on ways few understand. There’s a lot of infighting at work and it’s a fine line I tread to do the right thing and do my work and not fall into any of the camps. I have the distinct feeling that I look like crap. I need new clothes and need to see my hair guy. It’s cold all the time. I may need sizeable monies to get the windows fixed, money I won’t have for new furniture which I want and may not need.

There, that’s the litany of my major life problems. My memory’s suffering.

I was reading the latest issue of Body and Soul magazine at the gym. I hate Martha Stewart but I needed something to read. A five week long new start program is outlined in it. I skipped over the usual eat well and work out stuff, but I came upon a gem of a nugget in the Stress management section. It said to make a list of things that really make you happy and look at it when you’re feeling stressed. Would you believe it. It works.

I’ve created my little Joy List on the Notes app on my iPod. It only has 5 things on it, but I look at it and it perks me up. Even if it’s from a Martha Stewart publication, it’s a great idea. There is something to the saying that everyone knows something you don’t.

January 25th, 2009 | Category: Life |  Print |  Send it | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL