Stress Tip #29 Two day blog day 2

#29 Fantasy Vrs Reality

In our world it is hard to grasp what is real and what is not. What is achievable and what is unavailable to achieve. We sit there and dream more we do when we apply. We sit and say if I can only just win the lotterey then I could have everything I ever wanted... It would be nice if that were to happen but to be honest not many get to have that fantasy become reality. So most of us have to work for what we want. We cant wiggle our nose, blink our eyes, point a finger or even touch a picture and suddenly it appears. It is not that simple.

We live in a world that is confusing. It says you can have whatever you want... than in tiny print aka fine lettering it says restrictions may apply, batteries not included. We try to please others but we need to realize that fantasy and reality are two seperate things. Sometimes they can merge but it is highly unlikely that it will happen....

Todays reality was there was a blog to be posted. My fantasy that it would be perfectly posted this morning with no problems. That I would have all my goals finished by the end of the day. But unfortunately reality took ahold. I ended up not getting the blog posted until late because of a friend that was in need of some help, errands to run and health problems that decided to occur.
I may dream for that perfect house, backyard, car, mate, children, job, money, etc. It is a nice dream but dont consume yourself into it. If it happens be greatful but if it doesn't don't stress about it. Somethings come easy others come harder. We have to practice those harder things to make perfect.

Our fantasy: All goals achieved succesfully
Our reality: Goals are in progress, daily life stressors needing to overcome.

As one reader wrote: Be content with what you have. Take small steps to get to our goals. ~T

Don't go to fast for you may fall and miss something important. So take your time, be strong and you will succeed remember the story of the turtle and the hare?

Todays Challenge: See if you can find the difference of reality vrs fantasy in your goals right now.

~Hugs Keyria~

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

Stress Free Tip #29 Two day blog

Haley peered closer to the picture. She was looking into a princess book her mother had got her for her birthday. The picture she had been engulfed in was that of the princess bedroom. With wonder in her eyes she looked at all the clothes in the closet. "Oh what beautiful dresses" she thought in her head. She looked over at her closet to see the most common clothes then back at the picture. She looked at the huge bed in the middle of the room with the veil lace around it and on top as if it was its own secluded room. Her bed was a simple small bed no lace veil or anything. She sighed. She looked at the huge rug on the floor and the chandelier light. She looked at the huge mirror and how the room was all glittery pink and white. Her room was a disaster zone: clothes lying on the floor, toys everywhere, no real color but a throw up of random colors everywhere. Again she sighed. She crossed her legs as she peered back into the book. Then all the sudden she jumped up. Almost knocking the book off the bed.

"I can do this." She said to no one in particular. She made a goal to make her room into the same looking room of the one in the book. She started to clean. As she cleaned she found toys she hadn't seen in a while and would be distracted playing with them. After a while she would realize she was forgetting to clean and start to clean but get tired real soon. Weeks went by and she did try to clean but it was not going like she had expected. after a month she looked in her room. There wasn't much that changed other then the clothes were now in a pile on the floor instead of spread out. She sighed. Nothing is ever going to change.

When her mother came in she saw that Haley was down. She asked " Why the sad frown darling?" With a sigh Haley explained she wanted the princess room. She said but she can't because of the mess. Her mother smiled. "I seen you did try. So why not if we can get a hamper so you have something to throw your clothes into. And a Toy box for the toys. Lets see and we can move those there and this here..." Her mother went to work planning. She explained that even though she had ideas that meant full commitment on Haley to do as she is told.

A couple days later her room was cleaned with a new hamper and toy box. She looked at her room then at the picture then back at her room. She sighed once again as her mother came in to wish her a good night. "What is wrong dear?" Haley shrugged and turned away. Her mother looked down and saw the picture of the room. "Oh that is a pretty room. Still I like yours better." Haley squished up her face. There was so much more to do. She had to paint, get fancy dresses, a rug, chandelier and more. Oh why couldn't her mother see this isn't even close to a princess room. Her mother seeing her daughter disappointed still kissed her forehead. "When I was younger I wanted to have a pony. I had to have a pony. It was my dream." Haley turned and looked at her mom. Her eyes were now in wonder. Her mother wanted a pony? That is silly where was she supposed to keep it? She had seen her grandmas house where her mom grew up. There was no room inside or out for a pony.

"I wanted it sooo bad. I didn't understand the reality of my situation. I never asked myself: Where would I keep my pony and who would care, clean, feed and pick up after it and how could I afford it." I was to busy dreaming of having a pony that I never thought about those things. Your grandma got me a stuffed horse for my birthday, a rocking horse and a tkt to the fairgrounds to go ride the ponies. As much as those were wonderful gifts I was not happy. I wanted the real pony not a fake one. I wanted to own not just ride one." Haley's mother stopped and smiled. "It took me some time to realize what I had was wonderful. Not many kids in my class had a rocking horse of their own, nor did the get to go to the fair. Yes it would have been fun to have a horse but allot of work goes into having one and I know I would not have been prepared for it. We don't always get to have everything we want but we do get to have things and make them our own special things. I never got a pony but that birthday ended up being one of the funnest birthdays I ever had. Everyone wanted to come over and play at my house with the rocking horse, my friends were all jealous I got to ride on a pony and everyone believed I was a true cowgirl. I believed it too. I didn't have to own a horse for that."

Haley looked at her book. She sighed again. "I just wanted to be a princess" she said softly. "But you are. You are my princess!" She looked at her mother and smiled. She sat up and hugged her.
"You know, I think I have a crystal ornament we can hang from the wall to make into the chandelier, and that pink rug at the store would go good with the pink paint we found for your walls. And I was thinking maybe we can invite a few of your friends to come over and help put glitter on your walls. What do you think?" Haley's eyes widened and excitedly she said "Mom I love you! You are the best. You are my Queen and I am your princess. This is going to be better then that princess room." Her mom stood up and started to go for the door. "You know I was going to save these for your birthday in two days but I think you might want to see how they will look now." Her mother left the room for a second then came back with some wrapped boxes. "Go ahead open them up" Haley started to unwrap the three boxes in front of her. Each box had two princess dresses in them. Her mother hung them up in her closet then kissed her night. As Haley was lying she stared into her closet. The nightlight glow made a soft glow around the dresses. Haley fell asleep peacefully.

Todays challenge: What do you think this story is about that could help us to be stress free? leave a comment or email me. I just want you to enjoy the story today and tomorrow I am going to discuss the tip.

Stress Free Tip #28 Read

"Hahaha lol Hahha I love 'Zits' it is the best comic strip out there" Jenny kept laughing. She had the newspaper in her hands. She smiled at some of the other comics but 'Zits' was no doubt her favorite comic of all times. She had to read it first before any of the others or sometimes she would savor the wait and read it last so she would end on a good note. Her father liked reading about investments, her mother about world crises, and brother the sports, but comics was her thing. Each of them would sit and enjoy their section of the newspaper. It was a daily family thing that they did. It relaxed them and got them all prepared for the day... (well sometimes her mother wasn't relaxed because of the horrid stuff she would read, or her dad because of investments going down or even her brother if his team did bad... still more than often it was a quiet peaceful time)

#28 Read

I love to read. I love that you can actually get into a book and feel as if you were someone else for a while. How you can actually become that person you feel what they feel as you read their life. You become that character yourself and you relate to the character. Reading is a past time that most find very relaxing.

When I was little I would read alot! I loved all the different books. However as I got older I stopped reading and more stress came into my life. I started to read again and the stress lowered. Whenever I start to stress I sit down on my couch grab a good book and blanket and start to read. I became a different person. Then when I have read a chapter I get back up and start to refocus on what it was that I was having trouble with. Normally I fix it as if I never had the problem after I read. ~Mel Smith

There are many books out there: mystery, sci-fi, romance, childrens, comics, self-help, biography's, etc. There are different books for different people. Not everyone likes the same things, not everyone will relax to a book about romance, some will relax to a book about how to beat a video game, how to fix up old cars, how to play the piano and more. You have to go and check out the books yourself to see what will relax you. Maybe you like the how to books, or magazines about clothes, maybe you are a child at heart and love the children books.

When I was little I enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss and now as I am older I still do. I see more of wisdom in his words and not just fun sayings as before. Dr. Seuss books are amazing you can enjoy them all through life. Mark Twain did a great job on Tom Sawyer, and the Adventures of Huck Finn, and Robin Jones Gunn was wonderful in doing books for all ages, children, teens (Christy miller series) and adults (SisterChicks). Of course then there is the greatest book of all (to me that is) Called the Bible. I look up to these authors. Their joy for writing, where it came from and how I could get it. I love to write but when I can not write, I enjoy reading. ~Kristina Hollon

I could feel the seamist breeze of the ocean as I watched the sea gulls fly above me. I looked back out at the gentle waves. Oh how the sun glimmered across the water. I dug my toes deeper into the wet sand and wiggled them around a bit. It felt good. How I wish I could stay here forever in this moment. I wonder what it would be like to live out there in such a different world. I looked down at the sand all around me. There was a few shells near by, but not many. I knew where to go if I wanted shells instead in fact it just amazed me that right here was not hardly any shells but not more then a few steps away over the rocks was another sanded rocky beach that had lots of shells. Not many people knew of this place. Nor was I about to spill my secret to them. It was my hiding place. Oh what a perfect hiding place it was. No one around to bug me, just the sound of the waves as they roll in and the seagulls talking to each other. I seen a crab scurry by busy with its ocean life. I looked back out at the ocean. I wanted to savor every bit of this moment. This was my home. This was where I was meant to be. ~Author Kristina Hollon from "Seamist of Oceanbreeze" ~ (Story is copyrighted, if you would like to know where you can read more from her, Send me an email and I will give you information on how to order her books)

You can find yourself in new wonderful places you have never been before if you open a book and begin to read. In fact alot of movies out now a days are originally from books or made into books. I am sure you can name a few like Twighlight series, Harry potter series, Lord of the Rings, Notebook, A Walk to Remember...the list can go on for hours.

Reading can also help you to expand your knowledge, learn something new, try something new, and live outside of the box for a bit. Turn your world upside down for a bit. Be an adventure, become involved in a mystery, fight for justice, become a princess rescued by a prince. Enjoy a good laugh, cry, a learned lesson from the moral. Just like the tale of Despereaux, the little mouse begins to read and learns how to be a gentleman and more, from reading a book and putting it to life.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities. ~Dr. Seuss: US author & illustrator (1904 - 1991~)

Today's Challenge: Go read a book. Take a chapter a day. Find a fun book that looks interesting and start to read. It can be a story, a biography, a how to, mystery, or anything else that catches your eyes. Just go out and read a book. Have a little imagination today.

~Hugs Keyria~
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, & he shall meditates day & night ~Psalms 1:2~

Poem Time

This I must confess

that sometimes life can be a stress

With all our promises and all our goals

We walk around counting Woes

I have this to do and that to have done

I have this to get and that to have run

Work, school, errands, meetings

Hello! Goodbye! Oh Simple quick greetings

In and out of stores

in and out of doors

Clean the house, mow the lawn

Run another errand wont be long

I forgot this and that

I think I left it under the hat

Run around all through town

Sometimes I feel my world upside down.

To face my goals I must prepare

For stress to leave and me to share

my fustrations, and concerns to a friend

so they can help, they jump right in

Soon my stress seems far away

and goals are completed each new day.

Here I am to tell you

dont be afraid to ask too

With a prayer, meditation talk to a friend

somehow stress starts to end

And a smile appears upon your face

as relaxation is in your body from grace

May you have a Blessed day

With sucessful goals in every way.

Stress Free Tip #27 Fish Tanks

Yesterday we talked about water well I thought I might add this one in.

"Blub Bloop blub bloop" four year old Kalvin said. He was looking into the fish tank. "Are you talking to the fish? Have they said anything back?" Kasandra, kalvins older sister asked him. She had just turned six and her family had gotten her a fish tank. Kalvin loved going into her room and watching the fish. Kalvin didn't respond. he was to busy looking into the fish tank. "Which one is your favorite?" Kasandra asked. She already knew the answer for she had hasked it many times before. She just wanted him to talk. He was not much of a talker yet. He pointed to the small guppy. She smiled. Her favorite was the algae eater. She could not pronounce its full name so she named it plexy for short. She got closer to the tank like her little brother and they both peered in. "Do you know how many fish are in there?" Kalvin held up four fingers. "That is right. The same number as your age!" Kasandra answered back. They peered into the tank for quite some time.

"Time to get ready for bed." Thier mother said as she entered the room. "Can Kalvin do a sleep over again?" The kids had seperate rooms and at night Kalvin would sneak into her room to watch the fish. Thier mother found out and started to let him do sleep overs. "Kalvin would you like to stay in Kassys room tonight?" Kalvin nodded not taking his eyes off the fish tank. A smile spread across the mothers face and she started to get his bed set up in Kasandras room. At night all you could hear was the water running through the filter and see the fish swimming around. This soothed both kids and put them fast asleep.

Within a few months Kalvin had gotten a fish tank of his own. It calmed him when he felt like crying, it calmed him when he felt like screaming. The fish tank calmed him as he watched the fish swim in circles. His mother seemed to notice this helped him to think more and stay calm and relaxed more. You see before he would scream and cry all the time. In a few days they had a small fish tank in almost every room of the house.

#27 Fish Tanks

There is something magical, mystical, something just plain peaceful about fish tanks. We love to see what kind of fish are in there and we are glued to thier every move. They glide so peacefuly around in the tank. So graceful that we are at ease. There are all different kinds of fish; big, small, round, long, brightly colored, dull colored, some with long noses, some with a wave to thier movement. Yet we are all entranced into thier world of magic. We sit and wonder what it may be like to be a fish or we just enjoy the serinity of it.

I like a ghost fish. They move while staying in one spot. My younger brother loves sharks. typical boys lol. My little sister loves our guppies. She thinks those are the prettiest things ever. One of our guppies had babies, we were not at home when it happened so when we got home we only saw one left. So my sis got to keep it in a smaller tank in her room. We didn't tell her the other ones may have been ate. Our molly had babies too. We found two and saved them. -Brenda

My favorite fish is the plecostomus. Alot of people that don't know fish really well ask me "What is that?" A plecostomus is a fish that eats algae from your tank. they are not much of swimmers but you will find them on inside of the tank walls, on the rocks, and any decoration you have in your fish tank. They are good at cleaning it so you don't have to clean as often. I think they are gorgeous and they can grow to be quite huge. There is this game I like to play online called fishworld and you can actually buy fish and one of them is the plecostomus. If you get that fish your tank will be clean and you dont have to clean it lol. -Kiley

I have a small fish tank and keep hardy fish like a betta or gold fish. However I love to go to the aquariums at zoos. Especially Monterey Bay. They have such a wide view of OCEAN fish and I love it. I think my favorite is the sun fish and the jelly fish. Those jelly fish are so amazing to watch. They move slowly and gracefully that I am hypnotized by them. In fact it is hard to move me away from that tank once I have seen it. My friend gets the same way with the Dolphins at Discovery Kingdom. She says she loves to just sit in front of the tank and she would sit there all day everyday if she could. -Trista

There is just something about fish that makes us forget about the world around us. It eases our minds and stress.

Todays Challenge: Watch fish! Go visit a pet store and look at all the different fish, if you have your own tank watch your fish, or go online and watch a video on fish. Today just look at the fish and watch them move.

~Hugs Keyria~

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

Stress Free Tip #26 Water

It's Summer time here
so there is nothing to fear.

I am all set....to get wet.
Jump in the pool just to stay cool.
The water is refreshing,
an honest true blessing.
The water how it shimmers.
Oh look at all the swimmers.
They jump in, for a swim.
Grab your bathing suit, trunks & fins
then come on over and lets begain;
To have fun ....in the sun.

#26 Water

I love water! I love to go to the ocean, lake, rivers, pools and just to watch how the water shimmers from the sunlight that hits it. I get filled with joy. In fact Incubus said my exact feelings in thier song "Wish you were here." Thier lyrics "I dig my toes into the sand. The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket. I lean against the wind. Pretend I am weightless and in this moment I am happy happy" is exactly how I feel.

Most of us don't just like to look at the water but we love to jump in. We go out to the lake, ocean, sometimes rivers but mostly pools and we dive in and have fun. Splashing about enjoying the feeling of being light as a feather. Almost like flying but in water. We love how it cools our bodies. It even helps us stay fit. Amazing how water can be so healthy for us.

When you are stressed out have you ever noticed that if you go take a warm shower, get into a hot tub (even a pool) and slowly move around or just stay in one spot letting the water hit you sooths you. The shower is like a warm massage against your back, the jacuzzi is the same. The pool you slowly move and can just feel grace. By being in water you calm yourself down. (of course some have exceptions like being afraid of water, stranded, or not able to swim but you can still enjoy water)

When you swim you feel different then when you are out of the water walking. It is a different kind of feeling. You feel graceful, peaceful, and some feel mighty. Maybe that is because you can lift heavy things in the water easier then out of the water.

Water is a way of health. You should be drinking water all throughout the day to stay healthy, also you can use water as a form of exercise. You can swim, do areobics in the water, use water wieghts, water fights, go on water rides, water rafting, kanoeing, sailing, or water slides, water parks, water is a great source of fun.

So what are you waiting for? Go have fun with some water lol

Todays Challenge: (You have two this time)

First Drink a cup of water. Your choice of how cold warm or hot you want it to be.

Second have fun with water by: jumping into some water if you can or just got and watch it shimmer in the sun! Go to the lake, to a pool, a beach. However if you can't do any of those things set up a sprinkler go run through it or even just get the water hose and spray it on yourself. You could get friends together and go to a water park, go have water guns or even water balloon fights.

~Hugs Keyria~

With joy you will draw water from wells of salvation~ Isaiah 12:3

Stress Free Tip #25 Addictives

"Mmmm Coffeeeee" "No way SODA is the best!" "You both wish. Pixie stix are the best" Melanie, Kindra, and Josie were all sitting in a circle talking about thier biggest crave and which was the best. "Pixie stix?" Melanie asked sarcastically? "Yes, Pixie stix. Have you ever heard of it?" Josie asked back sarcastically. "Isn't that the candy that is basically just sugar? It comes in a small tube and is all different colors?" Kindra asked. Both Josie and Melanie nodded their heads. "Oh I love that candy. Ooh now I want that and soda" Kindra said. Both Melanie and Josie started to laugh. Kindra joined in.

#25 Avoid addictive activities

Ok most of us love getting either coffee, soda or candy. We love the way it taste and we become addictive to it. Sugary items are definitely not healthy for us to have a lot of. Yet we all have a lot of it and before we know it, we are out of control with it. How can coffee, soda, candy or whatever it is you are addicted to get out of control? Glad you asked, lets look at soda:

If you live in America most if not all have tried soda at least once. Those of us that drink soda usually start off slow and have a soda every now and then. However soon we start to have soda once a day. That once a day soda then turns into three times a day. Later on it turns into seven times a day and so forth. Or the soda may stay at three times a day but now we start using a bigger cup then before. Ok, so we drink alot of soda. No biggie right? Wrong, It wouln't be a biggie if you were not addicted but since you are then there is a problem. WHY? Glad you asked again:

We are so addicted to these items that we cant handle being without them. And when a health issue or some other reason arrives that says "Sorry you cant have that anymore." We become angry, aggravated, irritated, annoyed and so forth. Not fun to be around and we are very upset that we start to stress.

I know a person that is so addicted to sodas that if they don’t have their sodas they get really bad Migranes. They also become very cranky until they have thier next soda. Migranes, emotions are your body fighting the withdrawal of the addiction. Though these are small addictions they can lead into more unhealthier addictions like Drugs and alcohol. Some can even skip the small and go straight into addictions that are more harmful then just a migrane.

You can have these items however do so in a appropriate manner. Take notice to how much you consume. I know a person that does a journal. She writes all the foods, drinks, and activities she did that day. She says this helps her monitor her addictions.

Did you know activities other then eating and drinking can be addictive? I am not just talking the typical drugs or smoking but other activities. Some run to get healthy, others run cause that is an addictive behavior for them. It gets thier adrenaline going. Some use not eating and become very unhealthy. They stress thier own body out by doing this. Some get so addicted to the television set they forget thier reality and the television series become thier reality.

Some love drama and they gossip just to have that drama in thier lives it is a addictive behaviour, Some prepare for a concert so much that winning is all they care about and forget their friends this is an addictive behaviour, Some lie so much they forgot the truth this is an addictive behaviour, Some what to look the best that they stress thier bodies and some love money so much that if you don't help them succeed with that then they have no want or use to be your friend. These are a few of addictive activities.....What is yours??

We have to watch what we do and only do it in moderation. Be aware of our surroundings, our actions, and our consumption. Alot of us become to addicted to something that we forget about our life. By doing this we stess us, our bodies, and our family and friends out.

Todays Challenge: What are you addicted to? Is it soda? Coffee? Candy? Money? Shopping? Your challenge is to give it up for a whole day. If you love to play video games for one day you are not allowed to play them, love to shop, for one day dont shop. It may be hard because you are addicted if it is not then try something more challenging give it up for a week. See how well you do. If you become upset, cranky or irratible try having a friend help you out or take and make substitutions. You cant shop but you can go window shopping, you can play a game about shopping. Try Super Poke Pets, or Petville both are shopping and decorating. Can't drink soda then try lemonaide or punch. Can't have candy try a fruit it is just as sweet. Good luck.

~Hugs Keyria~

For in that day every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made. Isaiah 31:7