A young lady confidently walked around the room while explaining stress management. She raised a glass of water to the audience. Everyone knew she was going to ask the question, “half empty or half full?” but she fooled them all. “How heavy is this glass of water?” she asked with a smile.
The answers ranged from eight ounces to twenty ounces.
She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it’s the same weight but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”
She continued, “And that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden; holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night…pick them up again tomorrow.”
*Accept the fact that some days you’re the pigeon and some days the statue.
*Always keep your words soft and sweet, because you’ll have to eat them, sooner or later.
*Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of reading.
*Drive carefully…it’s not only cars that are recalled by their Maker.
*If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
*If you lend someone money and never see that person again…it was probably worth it.
*It may be your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
*Never buy a car you can’t push.
*If you’re constantly looking backward, you’ll miss where you’re headed.
*Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.
*Nobody cares if you can’t dance well; just get up and dance.
*Get enough sleep, your body knows how much it needs.
*When everything comes your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
*When you get kicked in the behind, be glad you’re out in front.
*Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
*Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.
*A truly happy person is one who enjoys the scenery on a detour.
*Learn from crayons…some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all live together in the same box.
*Have an great day and pass it on; someone needs your smile.
*Cast your cares upon Jesus, for He cares for you!
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, lucifer says, “Oh crap, “she’s” up!”
Maxine sent the above and I revised it.
Linking with Madge, The View From Right Here.
There are two ways to live life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein ~
Today’s Miracles ~ I’m up! ~ sun shine…somewhere behind the clouds ~ the next breath ~ bird song ~ oil in the furnace ~ God who says, “Sandra, call me Abba.” ~
What a wonderful post, love those 'proverbs…' Thank you for joining in 'Rurality Blog Hop #2' Hope to see you next Wednesday for #3…
I like this idea … I will remember the glass of water.
I LOVE your unstressed picture.
Fondly,
Glenda
Thanks for the lesson on stress and the many quotes to help ease the strain of everyday life. I like the pigeon one and the statue. Oh, and you like the cult classic movie Harold and Maud…never a dull moment in that movie. (I don't recommend it to despondent teens though)the older we get the more we see the humor in that movie..such is life. I do like 'ageless' Maud…I can totally relate to her now that I am past 60! Ha!
I love this post! Such great advice!
I like the list wise words, Sandra — need to keep that next to my computer!
Thanks so much for joining us at the BMB party (and for the lovely V card you sent. So thoughtful! xo)
These quotes are just the best. I'll write some of them down in my journal tonight! I like the 'some mistakes are too good'. How funny! Happy Valentines day!
Oh I love this a lesson to be learned here. I think everyone should read this. Life is stressful but we will survive. Hug B
What a wonderful reminder. It's so easy with all the troubles and cares of this life to feel stressed out all-the-time, but I like the thought of laying them down in the evening and forgetting about them until tomorrow. Nice post!
-Marissa
Visiting from the Valentine's Blog Party 🙂
hey, i hopped over from Boost-My-Blog Party! nice to meet ya. have a great <3 Day!! big hugs. ( :
We can never hear this enough! Thanks for sharing this today…you have helped more people than you know. 🙂
Good food for thought here.
Thanks for participating in the Boost My Blog hop today!
The story about stress is great…made me look at rest in a new way!
Oh oh oh– 2 of my favorite ladies!!! I recognize that special place– have been there many times! You look beautiful there!!!
Sending you hugs– wishing spring comes soon!
Vicki
Thank you for the timely reminder that I am allowed to put down my burden from time to time!
The line about Lucifer always cracks me up!
Thanks for getting my day off to a good start 🙂
You are a gift.
Happy Valentine's Day, Sandra, from me and the dogs.
*If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
Doing pretty good on this one! Those were great, thanks for passing them along.
Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing.
There were some lovely words of wisdom in this post – thank you for sharing it!
I was feeling stressed earlier today, but now after reading your wonderful post it is better. Thank you Sandra for this! happy evening to you.
Well, I just about wanted to cry less than halfway thru this list. I couldn't argue with nary a one…Especially casting our cares upon Him…for His yoke is easy. His burden is light.
That's an excellent lesson. I've shared it via e-mail with a bunch of other lady friends.
Hope your day has been stress-free and happy. ~:)
Love this post dear friend! So many good things-we should all memorize them.
I pray His grace continues to carry you each day.
Hugs, Noreen
I love this post ! Had to chuckle about sometimes you're here to serve as a warning to others….
..but the message of holding onto problems and the comparisons, right on ! Thank=you again.
I absolutely loved this! Simple illustrations that make a huge impact are too few and far between sometimes…another bookmark in my browser! Thank you!
Really like the analogy with the glass of water. So very true, but I never thought of it that way.
Sandra,
Your image really makes sense. You have to take a break from your worries and stress or you will be eaten alive.
Thanks for a timely post!
God Bless You!
Charlotte
Amen!!!
(On another note, I just noticed, via the 'link within' widget, that you and Dave went to Barrow. We were there last summer, and I recognized most of what you showed. It sure is another world!)
I like the thought that sometimes I am the statue and sometimes the pigeon. I notice that in your photo when you are "mostly de-stressed," there is no pigeon resting on the statue. And you are certainly the statue in that case, right?
It seems that I go from being the pigeon to the statue from hour to hour, some days.
Thanks, Sandra!
Thanks for this post, Sandra. I am feeling stressed this morning. Your post helped put some perspective back in the picture. Going to set down my glass of "water." Have a great day!
Blessings,
Fay
Wonderful!!! Such a good reminder to life.
That's a nice way of explaining how stress can wear you down!
Wow, you have no idea how important it was for me to read this post today. Thank you for the perfect timimg 🙂
What a good illustration! I read it aloud to my husband. It makes so much good sense. In the long run we will be better able to help ourselves and others if we remember this.
Hello Sandra:
What a very clever and easily understood analogy of stress. The glass of water is also so easily remembered and so may, metaphorically, be held at any time.
And such wise words are contained in this post. Now we should all heed them!
Love this! The list is great advice.
Have a good day, girlie!
Boy, that analogy of the glass of water helped me understand how detrimental stress can be. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you for this post, Sandra!