MY STRESS RELIEVERS, THEN AND NOW OPEN BOOK BLOG HOP 14
Join our Open Book Blog Hop and share how you relieve stress.
When I was a teenager I would use dancing to relieve stress. It seemed the perfect outlet for expression and use of restless energy. I would turn on the music and get lost in the rhythm and my interpretation of the beats with body movement. It was liberating and if I’d had wings, I would have surely flown.
I also read and wrote as a form of escape and relaxation when listening to music wasn’t an option. If I was feeling deep disappointment or distressed I would allow my emotions to bleed out on the pages of short stories filled with characters immersed in emotional turmoil and longing for peace.
In college I began running and that was a great stress reliever. It was freeing. I was free from doing anything but putting one foot in front of the other, breathing correctly, and taking in the beauty surrounding the path I was running on. My mind was free to wonder after my body went on automatic and it didn’t have anything to do with a ‘To Do’ list.
After college, I went to the gym more than ran out in the open due to my change of environment, but exercise was still a form of respite for me. That form of stress relief was soon joined by going to the movies in the middle of the day, by myself. I had an odd work schedule which allowed for me to go to the movies on Mondays and Tuesdays smack in the middle of the day. It felt decadent and I didn’t need to call anyone to go with me. I could get lost in the pictures on the screen and rest my mind.
Once I rededicated my life to Christ it was even more important for me to take some time for myself because I gave a great deal in ministry and tried hard not to lose myself in what everyone else wanted me to do. One way I kept in touch with myself was by journaling;; that along with my morning devotions and keeping key scriptures on my heart were wonderful weapons against stress. It was also how I got back in touch with my love for writing.
Today, I work a full-time job, a part-time job and serve in different Auxiliaries in my church. I write both because I love it and feel compelled to do so, and dabble in graphics. I relax by reading and have recently begun
creating beaded jewelry. My mind creates different designs and my hands just go to work. There is nothing else for me to do but create and the day’s cares seem to melt away into a beautiful array of colors. I’m already feeling much more relaxed.
Let’s see what Stephany Tullis does to relieve stress. I’m sure it’s something really fun.
Follow me to her blog at http://www.stephanytullis.com/blog. While you're on her site take a look at her new book to be released October 30th which is now available for pre-order.
If you would like to link your blog to this hop, please click on the link below.
Rules: 1. Link your blog to this hop. 2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop. 3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs. 4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting. 5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
