STRESSED AND ANXIOUS? Join the club!

 by Judy Ann Davis

Stressed and anxious? Join the club. I’ve spoken with many writers about feeling stressed or anxious while doing the thing they love the most—writing.

Sometimes I feel like I jumped on a merry-go-round that doesn’t stop to let the riders hop off. And, if you’re holding down another job, or involved in any other family- or community-related activities, the anxiety only grows.         

So where did we go off the rails? Name your spot. First, as writers, we never stop thinking about writing. We agonize over the small details and the development of characters, setting, and plot as we labor over a current unfinished work. And, as we move long this fickle journey, a little voice in our head inevitably pops up to remind us not to forget to advertise and interact on social media. So, off we go to tweet, blog, and post on Facebook and Instagram and other sites.

I’m currently in the process of selling our condo where we winter in Florida. Every drawer, every closet, every storage space has to be cleaned and emptied. Belongings, what I call stuff,  need to be removed, packed, given or thrown away. Moving is tiring on the body and the mind. It’s especially unnerving when you have to keep every room neat and tidy in the process as realtors show your condo to potential buyers.

So how can a person de-stress? Through self-care. We need to take time for ourselves, be kind to ourselves. I discovered that doing one small thing allows me to rejuvenate myself. I take time to listen to music, read a chapter in a book, call a friend, or grab a piece of chocolate and savor it, to name a few. It allows me not only to revitalize myself, but also to embrace the joy of the moment. Finally, it reaffirms my life’s mantra: “Never let anyone (or in this case anything) steal your joy.”    

 Wishing all an early Happy Easter with lots and lots of chocolate!  

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The Easter Memory Parade by Bea Tifton

 I'm filling in for Caroline Clemmons today. 

I’ve always loved Easter.  The pastel colors, the spring weather before it gets so oppressively hot in Texas, the sense of renewal. Since this year Easter won’t quite be the same, I’ve been thinking about past holidays.

When I was six, we attended a community Easter egg hunt. I was quite small for my age and the bigger, older kids were eating my lunch as far as finding Easter eggs. I was getting quite discouraged and disappointed. One sympathetic employee was watching the celebration. He stood up and caught my eye, then gave me the subtle head jerk that meant, “Hey, Peewee, there’s one over there, to the right.” I was so excited when I found one. He did this two more times, and by then I was happy and moved on.  Nothing beats getting just a little help. 

 I have one picture of me in my Easter dress and I don’t look like a happy eight year old. There’s a big water spot right on the front. I spilled something on it just before I was supposed to have my picture taken and my mother was *not* happy. But no one would notice the water, right? 

When I was nine, I saw an article on one of my mother’s magazines for a rabbit cake. Mom and I made it together, with me doing most of the mixing, baking, and decorating. I was so darn proud of that cake and I loved spending that time with my mother. Note the forks are laid out in anticipation.

We could still have Easter egg hunts when I first started out as a teacher. It was always so much fun. Then one year after I became a librarian, the pre K Easter egg hunt got rained out. The enterprising teachers asked me if the kids could have the Easter egg hunt in the library. Of course! Three months later I was reshelving and found one last plastic Easter egg with some bubble gum in it. And yes, the gum was delicious. 

In prepandemic times, I would usually attend the Easter sunrise service, which is outside. Sometimes it’s a bit chilly, but it’s always beautiful. We meet in the Meditation Garden, and tea lights flicker around the seating area. An acolyte walks down the steps carrying wind chimes and the bells make an ethereal sound as they travel through the dark. As dawn breaks, the music rises and the air seems charged with an energy that’s unlike any other service. Then after the service we pile into the church for an Easter breakfast where calories don’t count. 

No matter what your faith or what you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Easter and get some great Easter candy. I’ve heard Peeps are very popular.