Breathe, Baby, Breathe. . .

My granddaughters shared a side-splitting story about a classmate, whose (let them tell it) "elevator didn't go all the way to the top."

Through uncontrollable laughter and tears, they explained how the child became overwhelmed with a classroom situation and not knowing what to do, she stood before them, gasping in one big breath after another and repeatedly saying to herself, "Breathe, CeeCee, breathe!"

As comical as it may have seemed to the girls, taking deep breaths tremendously aids anxiety. Matter of fact, it's largely recommended by respected stress experts. Just think. It's quick, easy, effective, and free.

When we take deep, solid (not shallow) breaths, we allow air to fill our lungs, whereas oxygen is carried to our brains. In a manner of speaking, releasing the strain on our brain. When we exhale, we allow the tension that's knotted up in our chest to ease away.

Okay, all together now, let's try breathing. Inhale. . . long . . . and easy. No, no . . . don't suck in your gut, suck in your chest. And don't do that shoulder-lifting thing either. Okay, slowly exhale. Again. . . inhale . . . exhale. You got it? Allow your chest to rise and fall--like papa's when he's reclining in his chair, enjoying a peaceful nap.

Make it a priority to do deep breathing morning, noon, and night. Seriously, it's a great stress aid. But don't take my word, try it and see for yourself.

Okay, all you computer people, stop tapping on that keyboard and breathe! Ready? Inhale . . . (nice and slow) . . . exhale; Inhale . . . exhale; Inhale . . . exhale.

Peace I leave with you . . .

Me? Stressed?

Welcome to Let's De-Stress. So glad you stopped by. While you're here, may I ask you a question?

On a scale from one to ten, how stressed are you? Go ahead. Admit it. There's no need to be shy. You may say, "Oh, no, I'm not stressed. I never allow anything or anyone to bother me."

Wonderful. That's really wonderful. Except, the truth is we're all plagued by stress. Living in a stressful world, among stressful situations, around stressful people, we ultimately find ourselves at different crossroads of stress. Whether mental, or emotional, or financial, or relational, or whatever, stress plays a tremendous part in our everyday lives.

A week or so after surviving a serious heart attack, a friend admitted to me that she had been burdened with severe stress for some time, but she'd never imagined that stress could cripple, and almost kill, her.

Be not deceived, "stress" is a killer. There's no nice-and-easy way to say it, other than to tell it like it is. Stress is one of the most ruthless killers in America. And for each life that it doesn't destroy, it certainly complicates. So what do we do?

For starters, we'll congregate on this blog for the purpose of revealing and releasing unhealthy stress. We'll consider every available resource we can find (even if we have to invent some) to help stomp out the dangerous affects of stress. We owe it to ourselves. Don't you agree?


Peace I leave with you . . .