Passeggiata (Stroll) Therapy to Bust Through Worries

Today I stopped everything to take in a breath of fresh air. A lovely stroll (or what we call la passeggiata) through the city with my shih tzu, Bella, and one of my dearest friends. Great conversation and a coffee break ideal for people watching at an outdoor cafe'.

When I got back, all of my tasks were still waiting for me. Nothing had been so urgent that it wouldn't wait, and life was just a little more "dolce" for having taken time to replenish ME.

I urge you to take an impromptu therapeutic stroll, whenever you are in need of a lift. Life will seem different, easier, more joyful, upon your return.

What are YOU worried about in this economy? Post a comment below, and let me know what works for you to bring you back to well-being.

Change Something, ANYTHING, if you want to Reduce Stress!

Recently I have had the privilege of teaching stress reduction as part of a cardiac study being conducted at Yale. The protocol draws from solid research in the area of cognitive behavioral therapy, which tells us that changing any of the following: the stress-inducing situation (if possible); the automatic stressful thought that pops into our minds; the negative emotion, or our body's response to a stress-------will reduce stress. You don't have to change all of these at once in order to regain a peaceful, healthy state of functioning. One will do nicely, thank you. You can change the way you look at a situation, concentrate on positive emotions, deep breathe to relax the body. All of these tools are wonderful ways to maintain inner serenity in times of turmoil. Then of course, you might want to read my next column for the Italian Tribune--and see why taking time to notice a rainbow works well, too, in improving the quality of life.

How do YOU reduce stress? Or don't you? Let me know by posting your comments below.

Till next time.. a presto!
RAeleen

Get Rid of Excess Living

In the days of my immigrant grandparents, there was no such thing as "waste". If you only used half a paper towel, you folded it in half, tore it apart, and saved the rest for the next time. We have gotten so far away from that mentality, we have literally drowned ourselves in excessive living, and now it is up to us to throw ourselves a lifeline to get out of this mess. Have you been buying things that you realize you already have at home? Have you taken a good look at your bills to see if there is any extra "padding" in them, or services you don't use? Have you been going out to dinner with friends for fear you'll be left out if you would rather eat home and save money? These are all signs of Excess Living. The beauty is, once you weed the excess out, a beautify clarity comes into focus. It is like putting the plug in a bathtub filled with your energy--financial and emotional. You don't want your energy to be all drained away . You'll find you don't need excess, and that with simplicity comes tranquility.