Relax Already!!!

Do you ever feel guilty when you sit down & relax in front of the television set? Do you feel like you've wasted your day if on your days off from work, you did not keep yourself occupied with chores & projects around the home? You do?? Well knock it off!! 

There's a reason why we look forward to the weekend. People need that down time from their labors & that chance to relax & recharge. This isn't a selfish desire, but rather a definite need. We MUST give in to that need or we are only harming ourselves. We are not robots, after all -- we are imperfect human beings, each with the need to get adequate rest & relaxation so that we will be ready for the coming week.

Life can be stressful - sometimes very stressful. When we have a lot of stress, biochemical changes take place in our bodies. These changes can lower our bodies' ability to fight off infection & illness, making us more likely to become sick. Additionally, when we don't take care of ourselves, we are at greater risk for emotional stress, which in turn can lead to depression & to all the problems that can be associated with that.

It is not selfish to take care of one's self. There's a difference between putting yourself above all others, to the exclusion of being considerate of the needs & feelings of those around you.....& putting yourself as a top priority in terms of taking care of your needs. You can't be there for others if you are too stressed out, sick or dead (think of the workaholic who dies of a heart attack). Remember the flight attendant on the airplane that advises parents on the importance of using the oxygen mask first, before giving the mask to their child. The rationale is that if the parent has passed out due to a drop in the airplane's cabin pressure, then that parent will be unable to assist their child. Apply that concept to life. Taking care of ourselves first is vitally important if we hope to care for those around us.

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So if you are someone who has heard repeated messages throughout your life that you should not relax & must always be busy if you do not want to be considered as lazy, it's time to erase those messages because they are simply not true. One is lazy if there's work to be done that never gets done because the person spends the majority of their time only relaxing & not enough time being responsible. There's a huge difference. Find that balance. If you see others around you working & you feel you can't relax without guilt, offer to pitch in if you must, or remember that those who are working may simply be acting in a responsible manner. They too will relax in due time. We don't all have to work & relax on the same timetables as others. 

So take a chill pill....work & take responsibility when it's necessary & relax when you need to. Taking care of yourself is not only good for you, but it's good for those around you. We are all better people when we are refreshed, relaxed & restored. How does it benefit those around us when we are grumpy, stressed out, depressed or ill? It doesn't!! So find that balance & throw away that guilt. Having a conscience is one thing...it spurs us to honorable action. Guilt on the other hand, only serves to trip us up & tear us down. There's a proper time & place for guilt. Committing a crime deserves the sentence of guilt. Taking care of ourselves & allowing ourselves to relax, does not. So on that note, RELAX ALREADY!!!



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