Today, on the Today Show, I was watching a segment about how stressed kids are today. A study by UCLA has said that 52% of freshman have reported feeling good and in good health. This is lower than this study, that is run every year, has ever been. Some of the side effects of stress are: HEADACHES, Nausea, Stomachaches, SWEATY/SHAKY HANDS, & FREQUENT COLDS. I am already diagnosed with "Stress Induced Over-Production of Acid" aka, Stress Induced Acid Reflux. And after watching this segment, I realized that my frequent headaches, sweaty hands, and frequent colds could all be related to the stress I have everyday. My boyfriend has been getting increasingly worried about my headaches that I seem to be getting everyday now, and I am very relieved to find out that these can be triggered by stress. I am a victim of this over-stressed generation and am suffering from the side effects. Awesome. But at least there may be ways for me to counter it, by just adding a few de-stressing rituals into my routine. (And yes, I say rituals, because with a slight case of OCD, things that I do frequently become rituals.)
On to the title of this post. The other day, in the midst of being over stressed and having three midterms in two days, I just left the library and went to the beach. I was so happy to have done this, and laid in the sand, sans towel, letting the sun soak up some of my stress, and the sound of the waves lull me to sleep for a few minutes. After this experience, I decided that it would be a great thing for me to do every Monday and Wednesday during my break from classes. The ease and peace that I felt down there was incredible. I also realized how lucky I was to attend a school that has their own beautiful beach one minute away from campus.
So, I took my own advice and went down to the beach again on Wednesday. This time though, I came prepared with a chilled Pesto Pasta Salad that I had purchased on campus, and a water. I was laying on the beach, yet again sans towel... which I think I prefer now... and reading a novel for my class, listening to the waves, and eating my delicious lunch. I was really into the novel that I was reading, and then I heard something right next to me. Startled, I turned around very quickly, and replied to the seagull that had crept up and scared me so much, "WTF are you doing?!" The seagull took two steps back, and just looked at me with it's head tilted. After a little, I laid back down a little, but still watched this courageous little seagull, and watched it run up very close to me and grab a piece of pasta I had dropped. I was so amused by it's bravery, so of course started playing with it seeing if it would come up closer to me. We played like this for a few minutes, and eventually he got within six inches of me. After I decided enough pasta had graced this seagull's belly, I put the top back on my lunch. The seagull then proceeded to peck at the box. I was very, very amused. This little seagull made me so happy, and totally unstressed. I never thought that I would share my lunch with a seagull, but I am so happy I did. I guess it's the little things. But I do owe that seagull a big thank you for making my laugh and realize that even just with an hour down at the beach, a lot of my stress can just disappear.
So, for all of you over-stressed individuals who are reading this, please take my advice... Take an hour, a few times a week, to just go "lay on the beach." Find your beach, figurative or literal, find your relaxation, and just GO. It will make you happier and healthier if you take an hour or 30 minutes out of your crazy, stressful schedule to just go breathe and feel the "sand" between your toes.
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