[pull_quote_center]The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it. – Sidney J. Harris[/pull_quote_center]
We live in the age of speed. We are those grumpy people who drink their Monday coffee blaming the day for their grumpiness, for their lack of energy, for the bad mood, and they embrace the weekend on Friday, the day when they’re supposed to be tired.
In all this rush, each of us has something that relaxes him/her. We have that special thing that makes us smile and makes us go further.
I, for example, like to read. Reading is that thing that helps me escape from this world, that makes me disconnect for few minutes or hours from the reality. Reading also helps me to gain time. On my way to work, I fill up the time with stories, living the lives of my dear characters. This is one of the reasons why I don’t ever get bored. I always have a book to read, a story that I live alongside my own. We, the readers, are the ones who live several lives, as many books we read.
The other day, on the way home, while talking with a colleague of mine, we came to this subject – what relaxes us, what helps us to escape everyday life. After I told her about my love for books, there was a moment of silence between us, and then, looking at the red traffic light, she said: ‘Driving relaxes me. When I get to my car, everything disappears; it’s just me, the car and the rest of the world. Worries, bad thoughts just vanish.’ I smiled. I have similar moments with driving, but I prefer reading. And reading doesn’t match driving, you know what I mean, do you?
A friend of mine once told me that she likes to cook, that she feels a happiness that cannot be described when cooking for others. She likes spending time in the kitchen, combining ingredients in order to prepare all sorts of recipes. Well, that is really not my thing, but I certainly enjoy a good meal cooked by another person.
One of my best friends loves shopping. It’s not my thing, but I do appreciate that form of relaxation. Her look when it comes to shopping, her enthusiasm when she speaks about her shopping sprees are feelings that I cannot understand. It’s her way to get rid of stress, to make order in her thoughts, to reset her mood. I think that is a tiring way to relax, but, you know I’m not into shopping, what do I know? If I could buy online everything I need, I would be happy.
These are just a few examples that help us relax. I’m sure each of you has something that helps you to overcome daily tensions. Maybe some of you are into sports, drawing, photography. There are people who clean up when they are stressed.
What is that thing that relaxes you, that makes you escape? No, I refuse to believe there is no time to relax. I think that you have a little passion, a thing that you repeat often and that is the passion that can change your life but you don’t know it yet.
So, what relaxes you?
Andres
