BLOW BUBBLES TO REDUCE STRESS

Remember the carefree days when you were a kid playing? One of many children’s favorite toys was bubbles.

      There are several mentions of children blowing bubbles, in stories and paintings, using ruggedly made devices.

      Prior to the 20th century, children discovered their mothers’ leftover washing soap was fun to use to blow bubbles.  In the early 1900’s bubbles gained popularity when they were first packaged and sold as a toy.

      If you were a child of the 60’s you might remember bubbles as a symbol of peace and harmony.  The air was filled with bubbles as a symbol of peace and “flower power”, instead of war. Bubbles were one representation of the flower children during that time.

      Today, bubble solution is the best selling toy in the world!  Millionaires have been created because of the invention and sales of various bubble blowing devices and solutions. One man has made a career as the world’s largest bubble blower.

      Blowing bubbles require you to breathe deeply and you create something beautiful in your exhale with the bubbles.

      When I was a volunteer Guardian ad Litem with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for the Los Angeles Superior court, I spent much of my time in the children’s protective area with them as they waited anxiously for their individual time in the courtroom.  Part of my responsibility was to assist them in knowing that they were not to blame and feeling as safe as possible when they faced the judge. Most of the children were scared and several kept quietly to themselves, and others were crying. One particular day I took a small bottle of bubbles with me and sitting with the child I was responsible for, we took turns blowing bubbles.  In a matter of minutes, almost all of the other children surrounded us and they wanted to blow bubbles too. We all shared in the bubble blowing fun and some of the tears were turned to laughter. Although the children still were fearful of the situation they were in, the moments they spent blowing bubbles and laughing relieved the stress in the room. Some of them actually walked to the courtroom with a smile on their face.

      So keep a bottle of bubbles handy. Most toy stores still sell them for under a dollar. Surprise yourself, and maybe a few other people, by blowing a few bubbles the next time you feel stress. You might remember how fun this really is.

Quick Tip
If you don’t have any bubbles handy, you can pretend and still see some positive results. Hold your thumb and first finger as if you were holding a bubble blower. Blow over the top of these two fingers as if the bubble blower circle was there at the top of your fingers. For extra emphasis, you can close your eyes and visualize the bubbles floating away and popping the air.

Excerpt from Stress Out, show stress who's the boss!
ISBN: 978-0-9815238-3-5

Published by Self Investment Publishing ©2009

All rights reserved including right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. 

$5 from every book donated to the charity of your choice.

Stop striving for Balance

Many people strive for balance in their life. They set a goal and stress to achieve it.

When we want to achieve a more healthy relationship with stress, it helps to understand what we are attempting to achieve.

 Balance is defined as: to arrange, adjust, or proportion the parts to be equal. Are the events in your life ever equal? Can you control everything to make the events in your life equal? Does it cause you stress when you continually work to control everything to make everything equal?

It appears that attempting to manufacture balance can actually cause stress.

 Balance appears like a flat line:

A flat line, is usually the definition we give to death, no activity.

Our lives are actually a combination of ups and downs; things and events we label as good and bad.

Our life can be compared to a musical score of notes.

Some higher and more pleasant than others.

Harmony is defined as: agreement, a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity.

One synonym is "Peace."



When we accept the harmony in our lives we can better recognize the "notes" that we can change to create the music we desire.

COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reprint allowed ONLY with written permission.
Excerpt from Stress Out, show stress who's the boss Chapter excerpt,


Every Stress Out book you buy can benefit your favorite charity. YOU designate your favorite charity on checkout.





Self Investment Publishing
ISBN#9780981523835
Self Investment Publishing

Laugh Quota

Studies show we need 12 laughs a day to stay healthy.
You will laugh out loud watching this free movie of quotes and photos that bring them to life.
Contribute to your good health- get your share of laughs today !

A few of the humorous quotes:

"I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure"

"I've exercised with women so thin, that buzzards followed them to their cars" ~Erma Bombeck
"I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on." -Roseanne Barr
"Insanity doesn't run in my family, it gallops" - Cary Grant

It may require you to disable your pop up blocker to launch this video to play.

If that link doesn't work, click here

Exercise - just for fun

Over the years, the US Surgeon General’s office has issued reports based on extensive research, to educate and provide us with recommendations that can help us to live healthier lives. The report recommends that moderate physical activity for only 30 minutes per day can make a significant difference in the way a person handles stress.

The problem is that most people will tell you that they hate to exercise. So what can be done to make it more fun.

A French company selling a water product created this commercial. If these stationary bikes were actually sitting in a public square, would you get on and exercise to see the result?

Did you love it. Share with your friends.

laughter is also a good relief from stress.

How to handle stress like a dog

Thanks to my friend Dana, for sending me this photo. Perfect advice.

Note: Dana received this photo from several of her friends. We would love to know who originated this cute image.

Thanks

California
Featured Adoptable Pet:

A121560
Yuba County Animal Care Services
Olivehurst, CA
compliments of Petfinder.com

Keys to Holiday Stress Relief

From the co-author of Stress Out, Show Stress who's the boss, Aila Accad, RN

Three Keys to Holiday Stress Relief

“Stress is choosing to do battle with the Now.” Eckart Tolle

'Tis the season of Peace, Joy, Love.... Then why is this the season of added stress for so many people?

When you pile on a Holiday to-do list to everything else you are doing it is easy to get 'wrapped up' in more stress than peace.< One year I was so consumed by the tasks that the holiday lost its sense of deeper meaning. I wrote a poem to capture that feeling. 

Every Stress Out book you buy for yourself or as a gift this Holiday Season can benefit your favorite charity. YOU designate your favorite charity on checkout.

Self Investment Publishing
ISBN#9780981523835
Self Investment Publishing

CHECK YOUR SMILE

Some people overlook how important healthy teeth can be when dealing with stress. Proper dental hygiene is essential which includes daily brushing and flossing.

We all know how painful a toothache can be, but are you aware how much it can add to your stress level?

Even without pain you can have an underlying infection and not know it. An infection can cause you occasional pain, tiredness, headaches, problems with your eyes and potentially serious problems with your heart. Dental insurance has historically been more expensive than medical insurance. Countless people are without dental coverage and this prevents many of them from visiting the dentist on a regular basis.

If your finances are limited there may be alternatives that can help you to stay on track with any dental work you need:

 If you have a regular dentist, ask if you can qualify for a payment plan. Some dentists have partnered with lending companies that provide financing for dental work.

 Some dentists offer their patients the opportunity to make payments with each step of the dental work being performed.

 Check with the dental schools in your area. These dental students need patients to prove their skills with. (note how I did not say “practice on”). Dental school fees are usually drastically less than retail dentists, and, their quality of work can be just as good. Dental students are constantly supervised and they may also be using techniques that are more progressive.




COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reprint allowed ONLY with written permission.
excerpt from Stress Out, show stress who's the boss
Chapter excerpt, CHECK YOUR SMILE (c)
Self Investment Publishing
ISBN#9780981523835
Self Investment Publishing
ISBN#9780981523835

Proceeds from STRESS OUT^™ books benefit selected charities.
YOU designate your favorite charity on checkout.

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