Keeping Your Head When All Around Are Losing Theirs!

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I have this mug which I have my tea in every morning, others may be used throughout the day, but I have my favourite to start the day. Strange you may think (some may think in deed I am a little strange!!). I choose it because of what it says. One of my favourite quotes that was first told to me back in the UK when I was going through a tough time. I’ll share it with you and may well recognise it:

grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

niebuhr

Why did I share that with you? Well it sets me up for the day and most days I need that set up. Not in a bad way,  just  a ‘I wonder what today has in store for me and how will I deal with it’ kind of way. Life is just about to get a whole lot more hectic. Let me fill you in, if you’re interested that is! My rather fabulous hubby is about to sit some rather big and important exams. Ones that will shape the future of not only him and his work, but the family and where we live… yes,those kind of important ones. In June we will leave Denver, our sunny home for 2 years and move – again, to my in-laws who live on beautiful Vancouver Island until we know where hubby’s job will take us. From the end of June until the middle of July we will be kind of in limbo land.

Let me also explain, I’m a creature of habit. I try to tell myself I’m kinda daring and like new things but the honest answer – I do like new things, but when they are old and routine. In days b.c. I was more daring, enjoyed challenges, now with children it’s about all I get to maintain sanity – routine that is, without routine I  seem to morph into this crazed, ditzy female. One if I am honest I don’t like that much. I’d much rather be calm and coping and serene and fun but I’m just not that good at it! I have to work really hard at being relaxed. Relaxation just doesn’t come naturally to me – how strange does that sound?!

It is these kind of times that I need to reach back into my time as a complimentary therapist and dig deep to help me relax. I don’t do well on exam nerves so it is a good job that hubby seems to cope exceptionally well. I feel for him this time, trying to study with me and 2 boys around the house. He just puts in ear plugs, has a big bottle of sparkling water at his side and taps away on the computer. I guess I am looking at the perspective that if I can remain a serene and calm mother and wife then everyone benefits.

So back to keeping my head….. there are many things I/we can do. Some ideas will reach out to us while others will feel like you’d rather sit a bath of ice. There is no hard and fast rules as to which we ‘should’ choose. Gut instinct I think is the best way to approach! Essential oils, candles, gentle relaxation music, soft lighting and meditation may be the bliss and tranquility that you are looking for, but they may just send someone else over the edge. May be your choice is loud, crazy music to dance, sing, or exercise to. Possibly,  it is just getting out of the house, location, atmosphere for a while – that always seems to work when my boys get a little tense and hyper-crazy as only toddlers know how. That ‘change of scenery’ works wonders. It refreshes the mind and distracts from the tension.

I recently read that sitting and drawing figure of 8′s relaxes both sides of the brain so therefore helps with stress. Haven’t tried that one yet, I hardly seem to be able to actually sit and do anything but it is worth a try. Looking at the list above I use all and none. There are some situations where only loud crazy music will suffice, and others where ‘we are going out NOW’, and occasionally a quiet peaceful moment of thought, spiritual guidance from who ever helps you, and a combination of essential oils is the order. And there are a few times where only locking myself away in a bubbly bath with a very large glass of wine will do.

These are some of my favourite oils for peace and tranquility. Gone are the days of my little burners toddlers, warm water and naked flames just don’t mix, so now I am more likely to mix into a spray bottle and mist the room (after giving the bottle a gentle shake).

Petitgrain, rosewood, frankincense, sandalwood, rose and neroli. For more earthy and grounding oils then try patchouli or vertiver, more uplifting go for grapefruit, orange, lemon or bergamot and of course good ole lavender. Note frankincense, sandalwood, rose neroli are all more expensive and for rose and neroli many are sold prediluted in jojoba oil. This is fine as long as you are aware of what you are buying. I could go into detail about blending techniques but in the case of emotions I am always lead by the nose and whether or not the actual aroma makes you smile.

Or may be some of these positive quotes posted around the house will be the thing to put a smile on  your face:

Be the change you wish to see in the world – Ghandi

There is nothing that cannot happen today – Mark Twain

What would you do if you knew you could not fail – unknown

Just as the caterpillar thought the world was over , it became a butterfly – proverb

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world – unknown

Nothing is, unless our thinking makes it so – William Shakespeare

God does not command that we do great things, only little things with great love – Mother Teresa

and one that sits written on a scrappy piece of paper in my passport wallet that has quite literally travelled around the world with me:

Whatever you can do, or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has power and magic and genius in it – Goethe

That one for me has a sense of positive energy. I love it and it simply gives me strength on those days that seem tougher than the rest. Maybe I should enlarge, laminate and post it on any spare surface area in this house, because believe me, we’ll all be needing a little extra strength, focus and R&R over the next few months.

So how do you relax and save your head? Any advice for the old girl eh? may be you own a retreat that you’d just love to send me to??? tee hee. As always, we here at TMH love to hear your tales. In the meantime, where’d I put that massage bar, bottle of wine, loud music, writing pad and blend of oils? Somethings gotta work right?

Peace and smiles

:O)