By Joy Valentine
Joy for Seniors
In considering the tragedy of Sept. 11, I am wondering if I should change the name of this column to something else. At this time, it seems inappropriate, somehow, almost trivial, to discuss such issues as travel, leisure, retirement and joy. Our world, the world of most Americans, has changed. For many of us who are seniors, it may never again be the same. But we will not be defeated, if we don’t allow it. Defeat is a state of mind.
It is certainly true, however, as with any life experience, that some of us are more deeply affected than others, either because of differences in temperament, coping skills or more dramatically, the extent to which the experience impacts our daily lives. That having been said, it is difficult to imagine how any conscious person watching the horror of Sept. 11 could not be negatively affected, even if they were on the other side of the world and barely heard of the United States.
If nothing else, it seems to me that the events of that day should put in perspective for all of us, once again, how fragile and unpredictable life is, what and who is most important to us and how we are choosing to define ourselves in relation not only to that nightmare but to every activity we undertake in our lives.
We will not be defeated. Not now, not ever. That is not to say that, along the way, we might not be a little nervous from time to time, about any number of things, which may or may not be related to our world circumstances. So, this article will discuss some productive, practical ways of dealing with stress.
First, look, as objectively as possible, at what it is about the particular situation that is stressful. Is it that you are afraid the ship might sink? Or are you afraid of being seasick?
Once you have identified the problem, begin looking for possible ways to reduce the stress. Can you take a plane or a car? Can you take seasickness medication?
After you have identified some possible solutions, select one to try the next time you are confronted with the situation. Then evaluate the results.
While you can successfully manage some types of stress by modifying the situation, other types of stress seem to sneak up on you when you don’t expect them.
If you know certain situations will be stressful, develop ways to deal with them before they happen. Try to rehearse what you will do and feel when the situation arises so that you will be ready. Inherent in this approach is the ability to listen to and recognize your body’s signals that stress is building. Other ways to deal with stress include getting enough sleep, exercising and eating well.
Other methods of dealing with stress will be discussed in the next article.
Joy Valentine is a broker associate with Coldwell Banker in Los Altos. For comments, call her 24-hour Senior Hotline, 562-1019, or e-mail joy@joyinhomes.com.
