Wicked Wednesday: Time to Relax
Edith/Maddie here, enjoying summer north of Boston.
Our WW topic for the month is relaxation.
Wikipedia says: In psychology, relaxation is the emotional state of low tension, in which there is an absence of arousal, particularly from negative sources such as anger, anxiety, or fear.
Relaxation is a form of mild ecstasy coming from the frontal lobe of the brain in which the backward cortex sends signals to the frontal cortex via a mild sedative. Relaxation can be achieved through meditation, autogenics, breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and other means.
August is the last full month of summer, when many of us try to knock back a bit and enjoy less stress. So let’s get started on our conversations about relaxation.
Wickeds, what’s your favorite way to reach that “emotional state of low tension” in the summer? Draw a little word picture for our readers of how you prefer to relax.
Jessie: Relaxation for me involves almost anything to do with the seaside. I walk along the shore, read a book with my toes wriggled down into the sand, or carry my painting kit to the beach to capture the view on canvas of paper. I play bocce there with friends, explore piles of stranded seaweed and marine creatures with my dog, Sam, or unfurl a kite and race up and down the hard-packed sand to set it aloft. In the evening I light the grill and smell the salt air mingling with woodsmoke as I enjoy a cool drink and a pleasant conversation with friends and family.
Sherry: Oh, that sounds delightful, Jessie. There are so many different ways to relax, but staring at water is one of my favorites or watching clouds. Reading is a great escape as is watching a great TV show or movie. And I do like walking around the woods in our neighborhood there is always something different to see.
Edith/Maddie: Staring at water or clouds is lovely, Sherry. At this time of year, I find picking blueberries relaxing, almost meditative. It’s just me, the bushes, and the birds. We don’t seem to have mosquitoes at night anymore (which is frankly worrisome), so sitting on my deck with a glass of wine as night falls is a lovely way to relax. When it gets too dark to read, I just sit and watch the fireflies and maybe a setting crescent moon.
Barb: I find that the best way to reach a “emotional state of low tension” in the summer is to hand in a book at the beginning of it. Like great sex, handing in a book leaves you pleasantly relaxed in the afterglow.
Julie: Barb, that is quite the comparison, LOL. I will admit that I have not been very good about relaxing this summer, and need to remedy that this month. For me, like so many others, that means truly enjoying the summer. The blueberries (not sure about picking, but it may be fun to try), reading in a hammock, floating on a raft in the water, sleeping without needing to wake up. What I really need is to figure out how to relax all the time, but August is a great time to start.
Readers: How do you relax in the warmer months?
