I did a funny thing today ... Stress Busters for Beginners

I had a nano-second in between meetings today - yes, I did realise it was and still is Saturday, when most people go shopping, wash the car, walk the dog, visit relatives and probably enjoy some social entertainment along the way - but my Saturdays are like any other day in the week at the moment - I'm not complaining ... I am quite enjoying my 24/7 working week - but at least I got away from my desk and into the world of ... the craft shop. Otherwise knows as Dunelm, WH Smith, Staples, Stationary World, Book World, Room, Gee Tees and even a Garden Centre! I was, in fact on a mission to find products for my next interactive activity for people living with dementia.

Back to the story:  my nano second before my second meeting of the day. I could have made a brew, tidied my purse, opened the post, fed the fish, painted my nails, phoned a friend? But no, instead I wrote this:

Some things irritate me. But then I suppose other things irritate other people. Some people could be irritated by the same things - most likely - and that could be made into some sort of graph or pie chart. Clearly I haven't got time for graphs today because I'm having a part-work-part-social day with a friend of mine who doesn't yet realise she'll be joining in with the search for memorabilia for my imminent dementia project.

So, whilst I'm waiting for her to call and to get back to the irritating things going round and round in my my mind, I have decided to list them all until she arrives. And here are the little darlings ...

Pet Hates:

screwed up hand towels - ugly

toilet seat left up - unattractive

coat-hangers mixed up - irritating

coat-hangers wrong way round - messy and time-wasting

tea bags on side - yuk

emptying teapot onto clean dishcloth in the sink - really annoying

dishcloths full of crumbs - disgusting 

un-wiped kitchen bin - lazy and unhygienic

downstairs loo door left open - lazy, not aesthetic and unlucky

garlic in almost every food product on the planet - furious - literally fumingly furiously furious 

amazing that there's always 1 rotten fruit in a supermarket pack - greedy marketing strategy

late night phone-in-non-game TV programmes - struggling not to push the TV off its wall bracket

being poked in the side by someone who comes up to surprise you - argghhh - can't even express it

itchy clothes - boiling up with irritation

frightened-to-miss-out-people who listen to other people when you're talking to them - just rude

slimy swimming pool and gym changing room floors - uneccessary 

- Right - Hmm - I have to say, I actually feel much better after that! In fact, I can personally recommend it - and no-one has to know - unless of course, you put it on your blog.

My friend hasn't arrived yet. I'm feeling so much better that I feel bad for picking out all the trivial and negative things in life. I'm now having a short silent chat with myself and I'm now going to list all the cool things in life, my favourites, uplifting moments, plans, things that went well and may go well in the future ... my pet likes ...

Pet Likes:

the colour yellow

a vase of tulips falling over the rim

long relaxing bath

my friends

the onset of summer

freshly made bed

home-cooking - without garlic

when my mature teenage children smile

a cat's purr

roses - any shade and especially scented

sunset

my work helped one little boy

meeting new people

birds in the garden

Yes I feel much better now. Seeing all those positives were uplifting. The whole exercise might be a helpful stress-buster, a prompt for a creative writing activity, a pointer for when you're stuck in a rut and don't know how to get out - or to fill in a nano second of your life whilst you're waiting for something else to happen.

Whatever the reason, give it a go. Try it. You could theme it around work, feelings, career ... the possibilities are endless.

Enjoy the experience. 

Eat Well. Exercise. Make Lists. Chill Out. Be Happy

Gillian