I’m not sure about everybody else, but this past week has been a Hell of a stressful one for me. I will never forget 9/11, but with the increase barrage and forms of media we receive in our lives, with this past week’s horrific event, it was more difficult to unplug, and I was feeling my anxiety levels going through the roof. This, when I knew that my one childhood friend who was in the race, was safe, minutes after the explosions. I hate to think how people were feeling who were personally impacted by the Boston Marathon bombings.
Turning on the news to get the latest information, was even worse, as everything was over-sensationalized, and too much speculative reporting was going on, especially from the American networks. Switched off of those when they began reporting anybody of racial minority (in the US) in the vicinity of the bombing, as suspects, moments after the bombings. So I mostly turned off the news last week ~ checking in on the CBC with my morning coffee and whenever I was in the car, driving. That was until Friday, when I missed my coffee news until I got a text telling me to turn on the news and learned of the man hunt for the suspects underway. Once I did, I was trapped. I found it very difficult to turn off, and my body became a knot of wound up tension. It wasn’t healthy. And it was even less healthy, looking at Boston PD’s twitter feed to see that they too were sensationalizing the events unfolding (specifically the capture at the end of the day). The only thing that eventually calmed me down was Obama’s address to the Nation and the Press. Such a great and eloquent man, and was relieved to hear his reminder to all to not to rush to judgements, especially on groups of people.
Feeling on the brink of a state that could have been quite damaging to my mental health, I made the decision to unplug this weekend, take some ‘me’ time and focus on positive and uplifting activities.
I walked along the seawall in Stanley Park …
… seems I was not alone in my quest for some peaceful reconnecting with nature …
… observed a rehearsal for Realwheels Theatre‘s upcoming #WheelVoices production …
… enjoyed dinner with a friend, and caught up on a favourite Canadian Show on Global.
Not sure if any of the rest of you are similarly feeling the tension and stress of it all in your bodies, but if you are, please take my advice: turn of the news, unplug for a couple of days, and do something relaxing and healthy for yourself.
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