| Â | | | | jetty, taking in the sights, smells and sounds of the |
| It's a complicated world that colors our lives. A | | | | ocean helps to focus and put things in perspective. |
| natural consequence to this life is stress - if we | | | | Walk through the forest on a familiar trail, or even |
| believe it and let it into our lives. As thinking | | | | spend an afternoon at at local city park. |
| creatures, we can choose to not let stress be an | | | | Meditate. You don't need to master the Lotus |
| integral part of our daily existence. Here are some | | | | position or enlist the services of guru. Start each of |
| tips to reduce or minimize stress: | | | | your days with a twenty minute meditation. Find a |
| Simplify. The demands of a hectic life are not written | | | | quiet room and sit comfortably while closing your |
| in stone. Turn off the TV. Gracefully drop one or | | | | eyes. Focus on rhythmic breathing and repeat any |
| two commitments that are demanding of your time | | | | positive thoughts that bring you joy. There is no |
| and attention. Scale back on gadgets, toys, | | | | wrong way to do this. |
| technology and accessories. Remember the pure joy | | | | Remember that the only stress we have in our lives |
| and relaxation of delving into a book by a favorite | | | | is the stress that we let in to our lives. Enjoy life with |
| author. | | | | a sense of gratitude for all that you have and stress |
| Nature. Nothing is a better reliever of stress then to | | | | will become a dim memory of what once was, but is |
| spend time in nature. What a wonderful way to | | | | no longer. |
| return to our roots. An hour or two sitting on a | | | | |