THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: stress


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Stress

The daily prompt with one of those questions I have no use for this morning. It asks – Which book’s world would be the absolute worst to live in?

My first thought was reality is usually stranger than fiction and the world in the coming future is certainly going to have more struggles than we have today. So, these could be the good old days we are in now. I’m going to try to improve it for my kids and grandkids in the time I have left.

My better half says we have a free day today. I like the sound of that and to quote a good friend of mine, “all up.”

Some good music is pumping through my ears; I’m almost finished editing a shoot of 191 shots and about to upload them. Once that is done, I’m back on the treadmill for some heart exercise.

After a few minutes of thought, my question is – Are you seeing more people in your orbit under greater stress and are you overwhelmed yourself?

In our group of family, friends and acquaintances we are seeing more people struggling. Hard-working people, educated people, even retired people who have worked hard. And it’s not just financial struggles. It’s that atmosphere of tension and aggressiveness that is troubling.

People wondering if their profession is going to be around and if they will have to learn new skills and start over again. My children are grown but 2 of them are teachers. I have grandchildren that go to school. Imagine being nervous of family being in school because you know it’s no longer safe.

Just taking a drive can be a brush with death every time you buckle up because of an ever-increasing number of idiots and selfish F’s. Or is that food safe at the store now? And what germ or virus is lurking around the corner for our next health crisis.

Then again, the suns out, it will be warm enough to put the top down, and a good song has my spirits flying high and the hope it to make the best of the day.

I’m not overwhelmed, but I sense it on the horizon.

Remember to enjoy the colors of the season because soon it will look like this.

A dense grove of bare trees during winter, showcasing their white trunks and branches against a backdrop of brown foliage.
Photo by Mike Hartley


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Stress

The daily prompt asks – How do you manage stress?

Over this long lifetime I’ve handled many stresses in both good and bad ways. In truth it’s managed me at times in life. When I reacted poorly to stress, I sometimes used drinking and drugs.

I realized life was about managing stress. Like a wise friend shared with me, you can’t control a lot of things, only how you react to them. Life is one continuous stress test.

Being older and retired, a lot of those big stresses have passed or changed, and some new ones took their place.

The major ones have passed in some ways. but also changed in some significant ways. For instance, the stress of being a young parent through infancy till they are getting a college degree and one day are saying goodbye to you and their home. But you never stop being a parent or caring or worrying about them. And now we stress with the grandchildren.

The stress of the job is gone. Answering to someone else has passed. But I’ve always answer to myself, and I can be a tough taskmaster. Answering to someone else was a major stressor. I have trouble with authority when I don’t agree with it. And some who knew me professionally might have thought I was outspoken. Which usually meant saying what others lacked the stones to say.

A huge stress, especially in this area, is the daily commute. I avoid rush hours like the plague now. That is a stress I’m so glad is passed because I love to drive, but those 100-mile commutes to the middle of Washington and back were brutal.

The stress of being a caregiver for parents last years is a major one a lot of us go through. But when it’s over you miss going shopping for them, picking up after them, taking them to the doctor’s and caring for them.

The financial pressures are still here, that is a lifetime one for most of us.

The stress of health becoming an issue and eventually leaving this world. Health is the most important thing and it’s what you realize and stress about the most as a senior. Both for yourself and especially those significant others growing very old with you.

The stress of trying to have the energy of a young parent when watching grandchildren.

Thankfully I haven’t had the stress a lot of seniors go through when they retire. I’m loving it.

My stress reducers

  • Music
  • Get in a stick shift car with rear wheel drive. Pull up the light, focus, bring RPM up, put in 1st gear and let that clutch go.
  • Exercise
  • Tell the boss where to go.
  • Good friends you can unwind with.
  • A motorcycle
  • I guess I could have reduced your stress by making this post a little shorter.
A man in a red jacket sits on a bench with his hands covering his face, appearing distressed, while several people are seated or walking in the background near a pavilion.
Don’t Stress over the coming Holidays. Photo by Mike Hartley


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De-stress

I’ve never been so relaxed for the end of year holidays. Not having the pressures of work at the same time has allowed me to enjoy things like putting up lights and decorations. Or enjoy some social time without being so tired I can’t enjoy it.

My better half and I stopped giving gifts years ago and just take a night or two away together in January or February, as our gift. And we are lucky to be able to give to our children and grandchildren.

At the same time, I see friends and loved ones on the edge because of numerous circumstances. So, I will try to help them stay positive and enjoy them as much as possible.

Don’t Stress over the Holidays. Photo by Mike Hartley

Missing loved ones this time of year is always difficult no matter if it was recent or many years ago. The social pressures and expectation of gatherings and parties. The stress companies are under to finish the year strong and therefore as we all know what runs downhill, it ends up in our laps.

Then the financial pressure so many face, are staggering. The pressures to donate to those less fortunate. There are also others like food and drink which can be done to excess. And those struggling maybe not enough to enjoy the season with a full stomach.

My advice to you is enjoy this year. I don’t see things improving in the next few IMHO.

But on a more positive note. Find a young person and try to live in the spirit they have for the season. It’s infectious.