Is There Stress In Your Life?

By Melitta Anderman

This is a question requiring no logical answer, especially this time of year. Look around you, wherever you may be: stress is your shadow, following you around as you attempt to entangle yourself from holiday input such as guests you haven’t heard from in ages but now remember you exist; buying gifts for grownups and kids who don’t need anything (you know I’m right); taking care of household and building staff; buying lavish wrapping paper and ribbons (I have it from a reliable source that Moscow has the most gorgeous paper). Need I continue?

Yes, because I haven’t mentioned providing food. The choices really are the same from year to year, but oh that shopping, cooking, table-setting and cleanup. So you are probably wondering, where is this madwoman going with her stress? Not to worry.

Forget yoga, mindfulness, spinning, meditation, sweaty workouts and follow me. Take a comfy pillow or baby blanket, place it on the nearest window sill, lean on your elbows, and look out. (If you don’t have windows, forget this article — I can’t help you.) Look out at the sky, rain or snow, people walking, baby carriages or strollers being maneuvered, dog walkers with assorted charges, tired buses which should be retired. While you are in your relaxed position you may have noticed that your heartbeat has slowed and you are breathing on a regular basis. You may also become sleepy and decide to take a little nap.

During my interlude staring out the window onto Second Avenue, I notice we have newly constructed little islands at intersections which the city has kindly installed. Is it to give us a rest while crossing the street? On closer look, I may have an answer. The little islands have space where I see black earth. I’m sure the city will plant either lilac bushes or trees, like what happened in that familiar book, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”

So look out your window and see what happens when you feel stressed. If you get too relaxed and don’t do what is on your list, please don’t check Second Avenue windows looking for me.