After posting about my frustrations with gaining weight and reading all the great comments, I've decided that the root of the problem really is how I deal with stress. This past year of being hyper-aware of human impacts on the planet has been tough on me emotionally.
I have always been sensitive to how humans have pitted themselves against the world. It distresses me that unique species on this planet are being driven to extinction at unprecedented rates; that our fresh water resources are declining due to pollution and climate change, leading to more international conflicts; that the insatiable desire of consumers is now playing out everywhere; that peak oil will lead to more conflicts and environmental damage because people are desperate to continue their way of life regardless of the costs; and that our activities have caused global warming and may be pushing systems to their tipping points. And I don't even like to think about the issues of GMOs in food and nature, much less the possibilities for a global pandemic.
None of this is good news for those that currently live on this planet, whether you are a tree, butterfly, or polar bear. Or a human. It seems we have ignored a cardinal rule of survival: don't foul the nest. We have certainly done a good job of fouling this nest and it seems to be coming to a head in this century. I guess I should be excited to be living through this time in human history but, instead, I am often filled with despair and a sense of loss for the (natural) world that was. Along with that sadness is fear for how I, and those I care about, will survive should any of these systems collapse in our lifetime.
I try not to blog about this too often because I don't want to focus on what seems overwhelming and hopeless. I prefer to examine what I, and you, can do to mitigate the damage that has been done and continues to be done by humans, as well as how we can survive in a changing world. However, the knowledge never goes away and eats away at my feelings of happiness and security. This constant backdrop of stress diminishes my quality of life more than giving up any the conveniences of modern day life. Despite what some might suggest, the answer is not to ignore it and go shopping.
On a physical level, I am doing what I can to live my life more sustainably now and prepare for greater self-sufficiency in the future. The emotional toll of the bad news that keeps on coming, like the Energizer Bunny, is wearing me down. I suspect that AMorris's observation in comments was absolutely correct that my weight gain may be attributable, in part, to stress and elevated cortisol levels. The need to manage this stress better has already been making itself clear to me.
For the month of March, I plan to focus on managing my stress better. I have plenty of techniques at my disposal, such as yoga, exercise, and meditation; it's just a matter of making these a priority in my day. I may never get this relaxed, but I hope to at least take the edge off...without resorting to frequent 'medicinal doses' of my homemade limoncello.
Besides taking the time to meditate, do yoga, or exercise mindfully, I am joining in Melinda's March challenge to take a break from technology each week. Her rules are simple:1. Select one day to take off from technology each week. She doesn't mean you are not allowed to use technological devices such as your car or stove, but rather the electronic stimulation that has invaded our lives: computer, tv, video games, and the like.
2. Slow down and spend quality time doing things that matter to you on that day.
3. Leave her a comment to let her know you're participating and then write about it on your blog if you can. You can put her "little doo-dad" on your sidebar, too.
Oh, and just to dispel any lingering confusion over my post title: I hate basketball.
Photo credits: Desserts adapted from Rick's flickr photo and kangaroo from Pierre Pouliquin on flickr.
10 comments:
Hahah! Stressed is desserts spelled backwards! I love it. You know, I need to do this too. I've been skipping meals with regularity lately, not exercising, and sleeping fitfully. I've got to calm down and manage my time better. Maybe I'll do better at managing my stress than I did at trimming the fat... :(
It does get to be hard sometimes to live life joyfully with all these big stressors looming in the background. Some days I can focus on just doing what I need to do or learn, and enjoy it, but other days I can succumb to despair, at least for a little while. On those days there's nothing like a tasty snack to take one's mind off things. I'm also trying to change my old habit of trance-snacking into a more mindful habit of meditation, but it's a tough go. I take some comfort in the fact that I have developed a couple new and good habits over the past year, and I can practice remaking this one too!
Chile, I had no idea desserts was stressed spelled backwards. I feel enlightened. Interesting that this is the case in English, but probably not in other cultures... hmmm... does that say something about our relationship with food?
I also often get overwhelmed by what horrible things are going on around us. I started my own blog to investigate the positive things we can do to change our own lifestyles, but boy is it tough to think positively sometimes! I'm looking forward to spending one day a week entirely focussed on the positive forward-moving things we're doing.
Thanks for joining the challenge - I was hoping you would!
Thank you for writing this. I get embarrassed that I hurt inside when I hear the news, read the paper or see something careless. I've gone back to meditation which is helpful but somedays I want to stand on the corner and scream for people to wake up. Instead I scream at myself when I'm careless, asleep and less than green. Not very helpful really. It's definatley heartening to me all the voices working for change and awareness on the blogs and in the world. I keep coming back to that. Thanks again for this blog.
Great post, Chile. Yeah, no matter how upbeat we try to be, there's always that nagging voice in the back of your mind that says "but it's not looking good out there...". Thanks for the reminder to slow down and for telling us about the challenge. This will probably be the hardest one I've taken on yet....
I had mixed feelings about posting such a negative post, so I'm relieved to hear it's striking a chord with others.
If ya'll want to do this as a challenge for the month of March, I'll post the code for my little sidebar image tomorrow. Leave me a post then to let me know if you're joining in. We can all remind each other to "stress less".
Chile
You are certainly not alone in the stress thing. I get really panicked sometimes about what we are doing to our planet - what I am doing, even though I am trying to live much more lightly. The news is SO very bad sometimes and all around us, most people seem oblivious.
I don't know if I eat because of that particular stress though. I think I eat more out of habit. In any event, glad you are unplugging too.
To Kale for Sale:
Buddha, shortly after his enlightenment, met a man, who was captured by his radiant glow. So the man asked Buddha: "Are you a celestial being or a god?" Buddha said "no." The man then asked, "Are you a magician or a wizard?" Buddha said, "No" "A man?," and Buddha said, "No." Finally the man asked, "Well, my friend, what are you then?" Upon which Buddha answered, "I am awake."
Unfortunately, people will only awaken when they are ready, screaming and yelling won't do it. Each person has to walk their own spiritual path to awakening.
Also, unfortunately, every stage of human history has had its share of disasters. In fact, the Bible even speaks to the great flood, where Noah saved the day.
It is difficult sometimes to keep the negativity in perspective, yet, if you allow it to override a positive outlook, then people will stop listening to you.
Show the way through positive change, good deeds, and trust that humans will eventually rise to the challenges of their times. We usually do.
It isn't negative, it's just how you feel and this is "your" little public space to talk about it.
I don't see how people can hear about these things and then walk away and never worry about it. It can be consuming to me. Shan
hopefully you'll find this comment....i've been MIA on the blog and have been trying to catch up on reading. oh chile, i've missed you! :-) this posting made me glad to know that i'm not the only one who has moments of saddness at the state of affairs, and thankful for the links as this weekend i'm putting together a huge paper and presentation based on the international health effects of environmental degradation. so thank you on more than one account. p.s. i plan on trying to participate in your stress reduction plan but am not confident of my blogging consistency over the next month ;-)however, i am feeling calmer as of late even without finding out about your challenge until today... what a good idea it is!
Post a Comment