The things that stress me...

I'd admit it, I am feeling a bit stressed this week. Not really bad or unhappy stressed but more like not enough hours in the day, too much to do, not enough time/money to accomplish it all overwhelmed. So, I am going to attempt to destress myself by verbalizing the things that stress me. I read an article not all that long ago in Self Magazine about getting rid of the things in life that stress you -- the people who make your life unhappy vs. happy, the friends that use you instead of being true to you, the job that makes you want to pull your hair out, the routines that put you to sleep, etc. Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy? Let's think -- I'd love to say to a few friends "You make me crazy - you are inconsistent, insensitive and uncaring. I don't enjoy spending time with you anymore and I hate having the same conversations over and over again about things that happened 10 years ago. I hate listening to you badmouth others for no reason other than that you haven't outgrown high school. Now, please go away!" However, I can't do that. I compromise instead -- I spend less time with these people yet still feel compelled to at least try to make an appearance at birthday parties (children's events included), religious celebrations (ironic since I am pretty agnostic), sporting events, milestone occasions, etc. and fill my calendar with things I don't want to do thereby taking away from the things I do want to spend time doing. The push and pull between my desire to be a good person/friend and my desire to get rid of some of this unpleasantness stresses me. I'd love to sing the lyrics from "Something More" by Sugarland to my boss. (On a side note, wouldn't we all love to be able to figure out exactly what we want to be when we grow up? Is princess still an option?! I sense another blog topic brewing!) I'd love to be able to go to work, do the parts of my job that I enjoy, spend time being creative and engaged with youth and with the community and then go home. I do not like the crazy hours, the endless headbutting with my boss over control, the "we've always done it this way so we should continue" to do so for all eternity even though that doesn't work. I do not like the lack of support or appreciation. My hopes for continued success in my job despite the banging my head against the wall frustration of my daily routine stresses me. I'd love to tell the insurance company, painters, flooring people and sheet rock hangers that have been working on my house since our water heater exploded on April 1st that I respect their other jobs and time constraints but I have been living with a cement floor, a missing ceiling and three missing walls for more than a month. It isn't technically their fault that my house is in chaos but their lack of empathy stresses me. My grandmother always asks people who look sad "who plucked your cake?" -- I think this is a funny saying. I am realizing that my blog today makes it sound like my cake is plucked. Perhaps it is just a big undercooked. Nothing a good nap, sunshine and a finished living room wouldn't cure. However, I decided to write today because I think it is important to vent about the things that make us crazy or else what do we do with that negative energy? Seeing my frustrations listed in front of me reminds me of that old saying "you can't control what others do but you can control your own actions". So, regardless of what else comes up and no matter what else is asked of me in the next 48 hours or so -- my weekend will include a hot bath, a few hours with a good book, a walk with my dog, pilates and some quality time with my boyfriend. I will commit to making these things happen because I deserve it! What types of things help you to destress? Whatever it is, make it happen - you deserve it too!