Email a Friend
Print Article
Our Stressful Amercian Lifestyle
My husband likes to watch the Andy Griffith show reruns - you know the show from the 60's era, set in a small town with Andy Griffith and a very young and freckly Ron Howard. The other day I commented, "I think you like to watch that show because you yearn for those simpler times, don"t you?" I know him pretty well after 17 years of marriage so I already knew what the answer was.
I thought about it though and honestly, as a woman, I don't want to go back those times. First of all, I don't remember much about the 60's (I was born in '61). Secondly, I rather like my full life. I appreciate greatly that I am able to be the mother I always wanted to be at the same time that I am in a happy marriage and enjoying my work that I am so passionate about.
And I even value the technology, (most of it anyway), that we now have available. I love that I have scores of medical journal articles at my fingertips.
But at the very same time, I definitely see how difficult it is to be living in this fast-paced American culture today. How difficult it is to find balance (as a woman) with all those precious balls in the air. It CAN be done, but it isn't easy, that's for sure.
It isn't easy to put your kids first instead of work deadlines or your planned night out with your friends. It isn't easy to spend 10 hours working hard at work and to come home and make dinner for your family while listening to your spouse rant about what happened to him/her that day, when what you really want to do is soak in a bath tub all alone for the rest of the night.
Do I think that many Americans live in a state of chronic stress that threatens their health and happiness? Absolutely. Do I think that many people who spend their life participating in "the rat race" end up realizing, sadly, that they were so busy trying to win that they didn't even enjoy the journey along the way? Sure. Do we, as a nation, need to get back to some of the most important aspects of life and true happiness (which has nothing to do with plasma TVs, fancy cars and video ipods)? You bet.
I do not profess to have all the answers, but I do know that striving for balance in our lives is one of the keys to health and happiness. Granted, balance is harder to achieve in our fast-paced American lifestyle than it was in the 60's town of Mayberry, but some things in life are worth fighting for, and I think this one is worth the effort. Remind yourself as often as you can to enjoy those happy moments when they come your way, and I now it's a cliche but remember to stop and smell the roses. In fact, stop and smell the chocolate chip cookies too while you're at it!
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Simplify Your Life, Manage Stress
Technorati Tags: stress, lifestyle, busy, workingwomen, balance
I thought about it though and honestly, as a woman, I don't want to go back those times. First of all, I don't remember much about the 60's (I was born in '61). Secondly, I rather like my full life. I appreciate greatly that I am able to be the mother I always wanted to be at the same time that I am in a happy marriage and enjoying my work that I am so passionate about.
And I even value the technology, (most of it anyway), that we now have available. I love that I have scores of medical journal articles at my fingertips.
But at the very same time, I definitely see how difficult it is to be living in this fast-paced American culture today. How difficult it is to find balance (as a woman) with all those precious balls in the air. It CAN be done, but it isn't easy, that's for sure.
It isn't easy to put your kids first instead of work deadlines or your planned night out with your friends. It isn't easy to spend 10 hours working hard at work and to come home and make dinner for your family while listening to your spouse rant about what happened to him/her that day, when what you really want to do is soak in a bath tub all alone for the rest of the night.
Do I think that many Americans live in a state of chronic stress that threatens their health and happiness? Absolutely. Do I think that many people who spend their life participating in "the rat race" end up realizing, sadly, that they were so busy trying to win that they didn't even enjoy the journey along the way? Sure. Do we, as a nation, need to get back to some of the most important aspects of life and true happiness (which has nothing to do with plasma TVs, fancy cars and video ipods)? You bet.
I do not profess to have all the answers, but I do know that striving for balance in our lives is one of the keys to health and happiness. Granted, balance is harder to achieve in our fast-paced American lifestyle than it was in the 60's town of Mayberry, but some things in life are worth fighting for, and I think this one is worth the effort. Remind yourself as often as you can to enjoy those happy moments when they come your way, and I now it's a cliche but remember to stop and smell the roses. In fact, stop and smell the chocolate chip cookies too while you're at it!
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Simplify Your Life, Manage Stress
Technorati Tags: stress, lifestyle, busy, workingwomen, balance
3 Comments:
I appreciate your comments, and without making this a dialectical discussion, I simply theorize how the philosophy: work hard, play hard, intersects with your remarks; or is this philosophy congruent to Mayberry?
Thank you for the interesting read and contemplation...
Signed,
Should be working hard at the moment
I appreciate your comments, and without making this a dialectical discussion, I simply theorize how the philosophy: work hard, play hard, intersects with your remarks; or is this philosophy congruent to Mayberry?
Thank you for the interesting read and contemplation...
Signed,
Should be working hard at the moment
Where's the cookie recipe? That's how I spell "stress-relief"!
Debbs
Post a Comment