As Is

While situations, encounters or events may seem intrinsically "stressful," it is truly how an individual perceives and reacts to an event that determines whether or not the stress response is activated.

Institute of HeartMath, Research Overview

I notice that I have been clenching my jaw a lot lately. Signs of stresss? Probably. Ever notice that bad things usually come in threes? Well, it may not be so, but it sure seems like it. A lot of things have been happening lately, not all of them bad, but it seems to be so. And they happen all at once. Not that there’s anything I can do to avoid it. I can soften the blow, but like flood, there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

I notice I don’t smile as often as I used to. Even my friends said so. I have developed frown lines on my forehead, so much so that the lines look like it’s going to stay, despite the amount of facial massage and masks that I applied to my face. No amount of skin care products is going to make that one go away, not as long as I keep on frowning all day long.

Frowning is bad, it gives you a headache. Try smiling more, it brightens your day. (I should take my own advice!)

Pay-Your-Bills Day

The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing.

Unknown

Payday. I don’t know if that is a cause for joy, anxiety or sinking ever deeper into depression. What is your reaction when you get your paycheck? Is it YAAAY! PAYDAY! or is yaay, payday. Ho hum. For some, it could be the former, but for the rest of the world, most probably the latter.

Before the paycheck actually gets in our hand, we make all sorts of plans. New wardrobe, holidays, travel, buy luxury items this and that. But when we are physically holding (sort of) the money, reality sinks in. Car needs to be repaired, larder needs to be stocked, bills, rent, loan, mortgage, credit cards, send money home to mum, til at the end we are left with a bare minimum to survive on until the next paycheck. Depressing as hell, I admit. So much so, some of even go as far by renaming it ‘pay-our-bills-day’!

I like to think that my paycheck is mine to be used as I see fit, but sadly it is no longer true.