Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Football, Pumpkin Spice and Ferris Bueller

It’s almost football and pumpkin spice season.

That’s right. Pumpkin Spice is now officially a season. We say this because it is proper to call each of these a season. They both mark a moment in the year when things change. 

Football season is anticipated, and to many, so is pumpkin-spiced…well, everything. However, don’t both seem to be so distant in July, yet already in our faces by mid-August??

Yes. Because as adults, time goes by way too fast.

Football and pumpkins, to adults, mean Fall. Or more to the point, that Summer is mentally over.  We are still going into drugstores on sunny 85-degree days for suntan lotion, or insect repellant, only to see aisles of holiday candies and decorations. Our brains jump to Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and thoughts of:

  • Only HOW many shopping days until Christmas??
  • Where are we spending Thanksgiving this year? Is everyone coming here?
  • School events and fundraisers
  • Extra extra extra early Black Friday sales
  • Oh. And it’s election season.

All of these thoughts trigger stress. And as a regular reader of this blog, you are well aware that stress triggers mental and physical pain, often felt in our backs, where we carry so many of these “seasonal burdens.”

Why does change of season sometimes feel negative?  School children feel stress as well, but it is more a stress of “what’s new,” rather than “what else is new?”

The difference is when younger, life is measured more by what's new and fun, versus how many years have gone by. For a student, a new year means moving up into a new grade at school. A literal upgrade in life. What new perspectives and first impressions will each eager student gain? The adventure awaits!

So, what is your upgrade? Your new perspective? When’s the last time you made an important first impression? When we think life is going by too fast, it could be due to routine. And perhaps our quiet resentment of that fact. According to Psychology Today, the feeling is very common:

“…the best answer for this phenomenon is that the early years are full of first-time events - your first date, the birth of your first child, that first big vacation, etc. First occasions are novel events and we tend to make more detailed and lasting memories of those first times. When we repeat the event, year after year, it is less likely to make a unique or lasting impression...we can observe the same phenomenon in a shorter space of time. For instance, the first couple of days of your 2-week vacation seem long and leisurely, and the time goes slowly. You’re thankful that you have two long weeks of this. But, the next thing you know, it's almost over and you are heading home!”

Don’t worry. You can change this by simply changing little behaviors. Take time out for yourself. Put the changes in perspective. Give that revving mental to-do list a break. Just for a few minutes.

Change it up. Take a stretch. Save your back. Push away your stress.

You know we have your back at Miracle Stretch®. A simple daily use of our Piri-Stretcher® can help relieve pain. It doesn’t take long and is easy to do. And while your body stretches, so will your mind. Look at it as a positive change in your life. 

One of many.

So, this year take time to relax, spice it up, and enjoy the game!


P.S. If you need additional wisdom, enjoy this Ferris Bueller clip. Turns out he was right when he inspired all of us to improve our lives by simply changing our day...



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