We all have those moments. You know — those stressful moments that make us want to shut out the world around us. Here are a few of the everyday annoying stressors in my life:
- A dog with an ear infection which requires me to give her ointment twice a day, which makes her look like she’s sporting a doggie jeri curl (as my husband has observed). I also have to cram 3/4 of a pill down her twice a day. Yes 3/4 of a pill, which is harder to regulate than you might think. This ailment has required 3 vet visits in the last month and of course boocoos of bucks paid out to cure her.
- Children. Need I say more? But I’ll say that between an emotional five-year-old and a hormonal eleven-year-old, I don’t know when the last time a day went by where someone didn’t cry.
- Daylight savings time has turned my lovely Connecticut home into a cave. By 4:30 pm, we are well on our way to night. I love living in Connecticut, but I really hate this time of year. When it’s pitch dark before 5:30 p.m. I honestly just want to crawl into bed and call it a day.
- Laundry and dishes. They’re never ever done. They’re just a depressing fact of life.
So what’s a girl to do?
Picture this: a frenzied woman closing her eyes to shut out the world around her as she makes little index finger-to-thumb circles and says “ohm.” It’s a stereotypical satire of yoga and meditation that is often seen in the media.
I totally get the need to shut out the world. For me when I have that instinct, in addition to turning to prayer for real relief, I use reading as a way to retreat and shut out the world. Television seems to be a good escape, but for me it doesn’t occupy my mind fully enough to really block out all those stressful events.
But books — books do it. When I’ve got my nose buried in my book, my kids know that I’m not listening. If I’m on the phone or the computer or watching TV, they don’t seem to notice that I’m occupied. When I allow myself to turn away from everything else and delve into a book, it really does calm me down and help me escape, especially if I lock myself in the bathroom and submerge in a bubble bath when the going really gets rough.
I was invited to blog about why I need to relax and say ohm by Stonyfield Yogurt to enter to win a trip to a yoga retreat. I’m sure that although I would have plenty of time to read there, I doubt I’d need to turn to that stress reliever.
Find out more about Stonyfield’s new Greek Yogurt, Oikos by becoming a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oikos. I’ve posted my favorite way to enjoy Greek yogurt over at Snapshot.
I also have the privilege of treating one of you (U.S. residents only) to a relaxing spa package of your own.
- 4 free containers of Oikos organic Greek yogurt
- the “Take- 5” Anti-Stress spa kit from Earth Therapeutics, which includes
- a loofah massage sponge
- Anti-Stress massage soap
- spa body brush
- Anti-Stress massage lotion
- a soothing gel eye mask
Leave a comment and tell me why you need a relaxing “ohm” moment. One of you will win the package as pictured above. I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 25.
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In spite of this tongue-in-cheek perspective of her busy life, Jennifer Donovan loves managing her children, her dog, and this site. She also blogs at Snapshot.
Well I’m first so I’m sure I won’t win. But I will say that I have been CRAVING relaxation lately and fantasizing about going to a spa, although I’ve never actually been to one. My stress? I’ll just say “culture shock” and “mum died in june” and “3 kids in French jr high school” (i.e. not just jr high, but in a system I didn’t experience and don’t really understand) and “new job.” I’m sure that’s enough, right?
I so need an ohm moment right now. There is a bunch of family drama going on related to the death of my grandfather last week, and it’s just stressing me out. Though I might be better off with a punching bag to take out my frustrations on. LOL
My husband is home this fall and winter. I think that merits a relaxing “ohm” moment! And I do love Stonyfield Oikos Greek Yogurt! Thanks for the giveaway.
I need a relaxing spa moment. My husband has been ill for years and I am his primary caretaker. Need I say more?
Thanks for the giveaway.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
sometimes we all need a moment or two to take care of ourselves…we seem to take care of everyone else’s needs.
I have to deal with a house full of animals that somehow I have to take care of, even though they are not mine. Plus somehow I end up with the household chores because I am home all day, even though I have been disabled for years and that is why I am home. I need an om moment and then some.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Why I need a relaxing moment?
It seems like no matter how far ahead I get, I’m always behind. 🙂
Michele McIntyre
National Spa Examiner
Lets see. I have quite a list of reasons I need a relaxing moment.
My husband has been looking for full time employment for the past 5 months. He currently is working 2 part-time jobs which do not pay well. I have two boys 12 and 4 who although are wonderful boys tend to annoy one another at some point in the day. I live in MI and hate the long dark days we have in the winter.
I agree with you that it so helps to escape in a book. I often do that with a comfy blanket or a soak in the tub.
I would love to win this spa package.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net
I need an ohm moment because DH & I just started our own business, splitting off from his partner and assuming half the debt. I will go from being a SAHM to a WAHM to make it a truely family business. And my fmother in law is starting her business soon and I will help there, too.
Ooo, this is an easy question to answer. Right now, I only want EASY ones 🙂
I’m a mom of five (11 and under), work full-time with children who have Autism and adults who have brain injury, and my husband’s a pastor. A sense of humor is vital and books are the balm of sanity within the fog of my days. 🙂
I have good kids for the most part – but life goes at 95 mph all of the time.
a 3 year old daughter (delightful but sassy!)
full-time job, second part-time job, 4 able-bodied kids, 1 with severe disabilities, 2 large hairy dogs (who are harder to love in the wet, muddy season) and mounds of laundry for school and sports and more sports. I’d love a contest for extra sleep. = )
Love this post! I hear you on the daylight savings, the neverending household chores… And I’ll throw in 3 weeks of continual illness in this house — both kids (and me) taking turns being sick, so there has been nary a healthy day in weeks.
Right there with you on the books too. Catching Fire (from Hunger Games series) got me through last week’s stresses…
6 beautiful and wonderful but very active children, homeschooling, messy house, issues with distant family members, holidays quickly approaching, and daily living with Fibromyalgia through it all leaves me needing an ohm moment.
My reason for an Ohm moment would be all those half days this week for conferences. I know you’re feeling the pain as well.
I could go for a Ohm moment – we’re in the process of planning our trip back home to TX for the holidays, and did I mention we livein FL? I’m trying to line up someone to take check in on the cats, Christmas shop, figure money out, should my husband take leave without pay or vaction? It’s all too much. *lol*
eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com
How to state your case for the spa package without whining? 2009 has been a bad year: “suspicious” mammogram in January on Inauguration Day; biopsy for suspicious mass (February) ended up being on the day after my beloved pet of 17 years passed away (luckily, biopsy showed benign findings); father diagnosed with inoperable, aggressive,terminal lung cancer in May; I was laid off in June; another beloved pet passed in July…two weeks shy of his 5th bday; September doctor stated she wanted me to have a breast MRI….this coming Monday–November 23rd–it will be a full two months that I have just been trying to get it “pre-approved” through insurance, let alone getting to schedule it; October brought another biopsy on, well, another “woman part”; November brought subsequent minor surgery to remove problem found in that biopsy. Sigh…I just want to have a peaceful, healthy, relaxing holiday season with the family (after, of course, driving cross-country to see more family for Christmas). No more medical news, no more deaths. Spa package, or no spa package — it felt good to get that all off my chest 😉 And….sorry about the whining 😉
I honestly need some “Ah time”-I am having a bout with depression/stress right now-….
After a day of homeschooling my grandkids I really need a Ohm moment
Oh, I would love to win a relaxing package like this–and I love Greek yogurt! Let’s see, why I need a relaxing moment? I am the chocolates fundraiser chair for my girls’ American Heritage Girls Troop this year, and my son just sold $1500 worth of BSA Trail’s End popcorn and we have delivered half of it this week. My husband has been out of town 3 times in the past 6 weeks on business trips, and I have 5 children aged 14-2 whom I homeschool, 3 of whom just had birthdays in the past 3 weeks. Oh, and we just found out that my 14 year old has an impacted tooth and needs braces for 2 years. 🙂
I need a relaxing moment because I have 5 kids that I am raising on my own & I am a 24/7 & beyond mom…sometimes I wish I could split in half just to get everything done 🙂
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Because I get my 7 year old granddaughter off to school, I’m expecting a new grandchild, my husband has cancer, and my Dad is getting senile! Yikes!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net