Stress relief:

Count your blessings.

• Practice gratitude.  It will develop and grow like a muscle with exercise.  Journal it, pray it, say it, love it, live it.  Find your way(s) to practice it.
• I’ve noticed people posting blessings on Facebook for the month of November.  GREAT!  Much nicer than reading those purposefully-vague FB posts that go something like, “Cannot believe what just happened to me…” or “Some people just don’t get it … but they’ll get theirs someday.”
• Give a shout-out to the Big Man Upstairs for a blessing noted.
• Tell people, “Thanks!”  Sincerely.  Or go a step farther and say, “Hey – that was really nice!  I appreciate that.”
• Notice the sky at sunrise &/or sunset.  The colors have been gorgeous!
• Blessings are everywhere.  It is up to you to acknowledge them.

Take deep breaths.

• Pause.  Don’t respond or reply too quickly.  Give your mind time to catch up with (or get ahead of) your mouth.
• When I feel myself holding my breath or breathing shallowly, I know I have to consciously tell myself to breathe!  Just breathe!  This too shall pass.
• If you can get by with it (without looking like you’re hyperventilating or trying to summon the Dali Lama), shut your eyes and breathe deeply.
• Let go of the need or desire to be right.  “Winning” sometimes costs a lot.
• Even better…Go outside and breathe deeply.  Unless it is near A) a pig farm or B) someone burning leaves or C) where the kitties and doggies go pooie.  I have actually had the misfortune of taking a deep breath, only to wrinkle my whole face up like a wilted, dehydrated apple.

Disgusting!!

Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing. ~ Mark Twain