Did you ever get one of those times when you felt as though everything and everyone was pulling on you in different directions? When the work, family, and other obligations just keep getting heavier and heavier until you feel as though you are about to crumble under the weight with no relief in sight. Well neighbors, welcome to the 21st century. We have finally managed to attain mental meltdown with our lifestyles and it has only taken a matter of 50 or 60 years to do it.
There was World War II in the 1940s and Korea in the early 1950s and then we had a few years in the fifties when life seemed simple and easy. Then Vietnam and the technological advances driven by the cold war and greed began to snowball leading to where we are today.
The computers that were suppose to relieve our paperwork demands have ended up increasing the demands on our time a hundred fold. We can also no longer work on our own cars as they have been made so unnecessarily complicated that they too have joined the world of over engineered bovine piles and further degrading our individual freedom.
Every product line requires a specialist to repair, assuming it can be repaired at all, creating more stress.
If you stoop to watch the so called news on television you can readily recognize their unabashed and blatant lies and perversion of the truth. The politicians… well, are politicians, what else can you say! However, it is not technology to blame, it is the misuse of it by corrupt man that is the problem.
Well neighbors, let me tell you how I have learned to deal with this mess we live in.
Like most of you, I reached a point where I had enjoyed just about all of the good life I could stand, so I looked for some relief. As I saw it I had one of three choices.
I could let it stress me out until I had a stroke or heart attack and with my luck I would probably end up unable to work and worse off than ever. Or I could keep my family doctor in new cars and other toys and he could keep me on chemicals and running at the required rate demanded by modern civilization until the Good Lord took pity on me and removed me from this veil of tears.
There was also another choice that I have found and let me tell you it works well for me and it has nothing to do with drugs, video games, or any other technological diversions, but an up close and personal relationship with old Mother Nature, which God gave us to start with.
I was out on the lake when the realization hit me. I had once again bailed out of my office leaving behind more work than any human could expect to accomplish within the given time frame.
There I sat with a lightweight rod and reel and an appropriate jig with the intent of catching some crappie. I suddenly realized that the stress and strain was slowly draining away and the tension in my neck and shoulders was sliding off into the water with each lap of the waves against the hull of the boat.
Shortly, I realized that my mission out on the lake was not the intent to catch crappie, but the pretext. The real intent was to leave my cell phone in the truck, computers in the office, and be in the sunshine, listening to the water lap against the hull, luxuriating in the gentle motion of the boat. Escape.
You can substantiate that you are out for therapy and not meat if you really do not care if you catch any fish or not. As they say in South Louisiana if you catch fish under those circumstances it is pure lagniappe, something extra but not expected.
The best way to enjoy this type of relaxation is to get out where you can find a deserted cove or other area where you can be alone. Get away from the beaten path and away from the jet skis and water skiers. Find yourself a deserted spot and vegetate.
Another natural tranquilizer that I have found is in the woods. I can walk into the woods away from the traffic, trail bikes, four wheelers and the blaring music of the brain dead and walk at whatever pace I elect where I can hear nothing but the birds and the bugs. No matter the temperature, while in the woods I bring some water, sit up against a tree and just listen. Before I know it every muscle in my body will turn into jelly.
For those who have to take a break during the day and do not have the luxury of the  peaceful places I am privy too there are parks even in the downtown areas. It may not be as quiet as a National Forest, but it will afford you a place to sit up against a tree and let your mind wonder to the lakes, the fields and the woods. It is better than sitting in a busy, noisy, café or lunch room and will do until you can get to the real outdoors and get into some serious relaxation with Mother Nature.
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