At ten below this morning it's clear we're months away from anything resembling spring, but that doesn't stand in the way of smelling the roses now and then. My aunt, following successful treatment for breast cancer, used to regularly remind me to take time and enjoy the moment. She's been gone for years now, but I still recall the strastospheric stress levels that characterized her life.
For many, life is like a diner and stress is the daily special served round the clock. Instead of pushing back from the table and declaring we're full, we keep eating until we can scarcely move and then ask ourselves, why didn't I stop earlier? The truth is, most of us can't just stop: we have bills to pay, children to feed, and life goes on. But in the midst of all this, if we don't push the plate away from time to time, we get sick.
It may not be something catastrophic -- it just might be a cold or the flu. But when stress levels are high or long-lasting, the immune system suffers and we have to pay up. A flu shot can only do so much.
A recent study indicates that adolescent boys with problems in attention and focus were able to function more effectively, if they spent about ten minutes twice a day meditating. Now I'm not suggesting we stop what we're doing, assume the Lotus position, and mutter strange incantations, but if we can find some simple ways to disconnect, we might help ourselves stay a little healthier. Sounds easy, I realize, and life is usually anything but. Still, my aunt may have learned a lesson we can all benefit from, and if we look hard enough, we just might find some roses somewhere out there in the snow.
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