Upbeat Living: Carp of the Day |
I had a friend who managed all computer systems for an Army base. The work was interesting, the pay was excellent, and Ginny was treated well. The catch was that she was on call, 24 hours a day, most days of the year. Sometimes, it really added up, and she could get massively tired and crabby. She could have complained. But Ginny had a heavenly stress antidote! She went fishing twice a year, out of pager range. At least, that’s what she claimed to do. One year, she told me the real secret: this was her chance to just sit still, for several days, away from phones. Ginny had learned to trade carping for trout.
Another friend of mine owns his own successful business, working creatively and constantly and often around the clock. He has a wonderfully dry sense of humor. He is always pleasant, and he seldom gets sick. I admire how he handles his time and energy, and fish. That’s right: fish. My friend never carps. He goes fishing. He has been making his own lures, lately, which seems like a metaphor for the way he makes his living and his lifestyle. When he can make time, he slips away to the Rim Country, with his big wader boots and his lures. Then he does very little except enjoy the glory of nature and munch sandwiches. He says there is actually a new book about this, called Standing in a Stream, Waving a Stick.
What are these people doing that works so well to clear their stress and restore them? They are getting away from the rhythmic beat of normal urban life. In a time-out from the constant chafing of the same old stressors of each of their businesses, their pulse rates and cortisol levels are dropping. They are getting out of the respiratory stress of the city. Their energy is going up and depression is being relieved. They are getting into a cooler climate and into the beauty of nature. They are listening to the sound of rushing water and chattering birds and rustling leaves. All their senses are now engaged differently than in daily stress. They are touching natural surroundings, which raises their DHEA and optimizes their hormonal systems. They are having fun, which makes them laugh and raises endorphin levels.
Would you trade carping for trout? Is that related to the Latin phrase, "Carpe Diem"? No, silly, that does not mean "Carp of the Day", or "Complaint Ritual". It means, "Seize the Day!" Until last week, I was always a bit uncomfortable with "Carpe Diem" in our modern culture. It reminded me of people selfishly grasping: parking places, snacks at a party, someone else’s idea. There is a thread of selfish snatching that runs through today’s society. It’s almost a sense of "I’d better grab mine now, before the world falls apart". Personally, I do not believe the world is falling apart at all. I believe we are on the brink of enlightenment and many other good things. I am working hard to be a part of that solution. Last week, I heard magnificent musicians called "Devotion", performing at Unity Church. Their song, "Seize the Day", was about people making their lives meaningful and helping the Planet. In Devotion’s version of the idea, "time slips away just like hourglass sand", so it is important to live your life fully and live it now. Pick your meaning and your bliss, then "Pray/pray/for Grace from God’s Hand/that nothing will stand in your way. / Seize the day!" As I listened to Devotion sing verses about people who are doing this in different ways, my heart opened and I realized: the whole phrase is "Carpe Diem in Nomine Domini". That’s a kind of seizing I can support.
So what are you fishing for in Life? Or are you just carping? Figure out what you want to catch, and design your own lures. Then figure out where you need to go, and what equipment you need. Keep a delicious sandwich in your pocket. Give yourself some time to stand in a stream waving your stick, letting things develop. Then see what you catch. Throw it back if it isn’t what you want, and try other lures. How will you best catch your Fish of the Day? Get going now, and "Carpe Diem." And remember your bug repellant…
Kebba Buckley speaks nationally on stress management and energized living. She is a coach, spiritual teacher, and energy therapist, as well as the author of a book on how to trade in your stress for energy. She welcomes comments and questions for this column. Her e-mail address is Kebba@Primenet.com.