19 Mar 2006 09:16 AM

Filling the Well Within When it's Been Sucked Dry

by Candace Salima | More from this Blogger

     

Chocolate, Pedicures and a Great Book

Week after week goes by and you meet yourself coming and going, giving yourself a nod as you race by. There are faint memories of sunny days, family barbecues, plays and concerts all residing somewhere in the distant recesses of your memory. Family, church, friends, job - everybody needs their piece of your pie. Your mind races constantly, never at rest, with everything you must accomplish before imaginary or real deadlines. You trip over every thing in your path, even a crack in the sidewalk and drop everything you pick up.

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The doctor tells you "reduce the stress in your life" and you snort quietly to yourself. How are you supposed to accomplish that? Die? So what do you do with a diagnosis of stress, stress, and more stress. What's the cure? What do we do when life is coming down on us and there is no relief in sight? Well, the answer to stress is the following on a weekly basis:

First, scented candles and a long, luxurious bubble bath with bath salts by Scentiments added. Even if it has to be taken at 11:00 p.m., this is one of the greatest stress reducers. Add anything chocolate (in your mouth, not in the tub) along with a glass of ice water, a book by your favorite author and relax.

Second, attend the temple once a week. Within the walls of the temple you will find complete surcease from the world and the peace which permeates your soul is tremendous and long lasting. Prophetic promises assure us that in doing the work for those people on the other side of the veil we gain the help, love and guidance of those same people. You can't go wrong there.

Third, a date. Go on a date with your husband, boyfriend, or call your friends and head out for a fun-filled night on the town. Now, I have to admit, my age is showing at this point. My husband and I try to go out on a date every single week. Sometimes it's just a walk in the waning hours of the evening, but we do try to do something every week. But there's just something about getting together with my girlfriends once in a while that fills that parched well. My girlfriends and I tend to do a lot of firesides in one form or another. When one of us is speaking we all get together and support her. Then we head out to dinner afterwards and talk, laugh and generally enjoy one another's company. An occasional evening with the girls, or boys as the case may be, is a huge factor in realigning your universe.

Fourth, pedicures and manicures. You can never, never go wrong with a pedicure and manicure. They have these great massaging chairs now while your feet and hands are submerged in warm bubbly water. Your hands and feet are massaged, nails and cuticles clipped, shined and polished and you walk out of the salon, thirty minutes later, feeling like a new woman. Never underestimate the power of a great pedicure and manicure!

So tell, me what is it you like to do to "fill the well within?"

Learn more about Candace Salima

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Candace E. Salima was born right smack dab in the middle of twelve children.

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4 comments so far

azturboman (21) 31 Mar 2006 03:19 AM

When I read the first paragraph of this blog, I was just certain that you were talking about me! That is my entire existence in a nutshell. The world just goes too fast these days, thanks to cell phones and computers, etcetera. As a man, I am a bit uncomfortable with the advice you give, but let me throw a couple of ideas out to the men reading this. First, sports is always a great stress reducer. For me this comes in to form of ice hockey. My son and I play together on a mens league team once a week. I look forward to that time like almost nothing else. Another thing that I like to do is to set up a surprise night out on the town with my wife. Hey, it's not as bad as the images you are conjuring up right now! I mean, come on guys. What is more gratifying that an extatically happy wife? Trust me, it is well worth the little bit of effort it takes to pull it off and, remember, the benefits are two fold. You get the pleasure of creating a diversion from life, and you come home to a happy wife who adores you!!

Candace Salima (1593) 31 Mar 2006 01:29 PM

Hey, thanks for the input from a man's point of view. Gotta love that! And I do.

LadyElizabeth (290) 31 Mar 2006 05:13 PM

I agree with Candace in that Temple worship, bubble baths and chocolate can go a long way to refilling your well. You can also renew yourself specifically according to who you are as an individual. One day I felt tangled up in knots. Things were going wrong, and they were things that couldn’t be fixed right away. I couldn’t free myself their weight long enough to start my daily routine. I was completely drained. I needed to refill my well within and fast. Nothing I tried helped, and then I began to look past the tangled knot of the present and towards my future. I began planning the details of what I would buy for an upcoming trip, (I’m the kind of person that has almost as much fun, packing and planning a vacation, than actually taking one.) Soon I noticed that I was more relaxed. I realized that in the near future, these present day problems wouldn’t be around to bother me. Then it hit meâ€"whenever I’m in a tangle of problems that I can’t untie, I should focus beyond them into my future and work on things that need to be done there. The tangle becomes less important and eventually fades from the present into the past, with me being able to resolve it or not, somehow it goes away. This works for me because I’m future oriented. I love thinking about and preparing my future. I’m a creative planner and love working out details. I take walks in nature to renew my spirit. I do something to help or inspire other people and it fills my well. I create an art piece that expresses a little bit of my soul and I feel tied to a greater purpose. Other people live in the moment and still others thrive on wonderful memories of the past. That’s where they need to go to relax and refill their wells within. People who enjoy the fun of the moment need excitement, adventure and other people to unwind from the stress of their day. Good food, upbeat music and laughter will send your stress packing. A spontaneous party would be the perfect end to your trying day if you are such a person. You need to be near other people and feel their energy. Sometimes you need to expend energy as in working out, running or friendly sports competitions. You can refill your well by experiencing the excitement or living it vicariously, such as taking a group of friends to see an action/adventure movie, or cheering on your favorite team competition. Whatever you do, make it fun and share the fun with loved ones and friends if you are a person who is oriented to the present day. Scrap-booking, home movies, and family gatherings, fill the need to cherish and revisit fond memories. Traditional feasts and get-to-gethers accomplish the same thing. A sense of belonging is important to you and you need to feel connected to your past. (If your past wasn’t particularly pleasant, it’s okay to daydream and rewrite the events of your childhood. Give a bad experience a happy ending; just keep it in “daydreamâ€� form.) You can also enjoy the past through historical novels, history and movies that portray family unity and the “good old days.â€� Whether it’s a family camp out or continuing a habit of reading a story to a child at bedtime, doing something that makes memories and reminds you of the old great days will refill your well if you are someone who thrives on the past. Prepare your bug-out kit if you are a future oriented soul. Just make up a list of what to put in it if you can’t buy the stuff for it right now. Plan, dream and draw out schematics, write lists, imagine possibilities. Think of taking a vacation, building or decorating a house, living in the New Jerusalem. Let your imagination run free. See yourself without boundaries, limitations, or needs, and then just create in your mind and on paper. Satisfying novels, such as “Crystal Singerâ€� by Anne McCaffery, can let you experience what it feels like to take charge of your future and change your life by your own determination. Whether you just daydream or plan and change your future, looking beyond today will help refill your well. It is important to note that certain people need solitude to renew them just as some persons need to be with other people to refill their wells. Some people need to create, play, and escape to another world through books or movies. Others need to work their bodies, party, enjoy good food and music. There are those who need to re-establish family ties, do crafts and hobbies, and be pampered. Some need challenging mind puzzles and problems to solve. Whatever you do, remember that it is paramount that you refill your well within. Remember that Heavenly Father gave you gifts and talents that will naturally renew your soul when you use them. He gave us the great outdoors to refresh our spirits. He gave us others to serve, that we could be built up. In this hectic society we must refill our wells, nurture our spirits and come to the peace that the Lord promises us. Elizabeth Cheever, 2006

Candace Salima (1593) 02 Apr 2006 08:29 PM

Lady Elizabeth, we all are caught in a whirlwind and your thoughts make great sense. Thanks for your input. It helps to remember that some of these distractions won't be around forever. It makes me want to gather my nephews and nieces close and hug them tight.

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