I am taking a three day weekend. The pressure at work continues to mount and anger and tension over unresolved issues is palpable. I have tried my best to disappear into the background so that I can remain calm. Everything is swirling however, and today I reached an impasse. I could not wait to exit the building. I had no desire to be there or to interact with anyone. When upset people hang together, stress rises.
Stress is the number one reason that I have overeaten in the past. It takes a long time to unlearn that behavior. I strive daily to learn how to unlearn this. Why did I begin handling stress by overeating? I grew up in a family where there was no use of alcohol or tobacco, however there was a liberal use of food. Food is far better than alcohol and tobacco and I remain thankful that I do not battle overuse of those substances. However, abuse of anything is still abuse.
I drove to my family home this evening...slowly exiting from the city lights...through a dark March drizzle...in a quiet car. The trip lasted about 70 minutes and during that time I was able to reflect and calm down. Stretching farmlands, rain soaked hills and the flip flap sound of the wipers all combined in a sleepy mist facilitating thought and appropriate emotion. This is the best way to handle stress. It takes time, though. I need time to live well. I need time to eat carefully and with deliberation. I need time to be counter cultural.
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