My Stress Induced Blog

The Benefit of a Stroke

I was recently sent this video from someone who has helped me expand my view on life over the past 3 years.  Once you get the idea of living in the present moment it can change the way you look at things.  It may not something that changes your outlook full time but it allows you to have glimpses of what could be possible.  This is a hard concept to put into words but this video is one way to express it.  This lady's emotion and expression are amazing so long after the experience.  I had someone describe being in the moment that the past is history, the future is fiction and the moment is the only thing real.

Guest Blogger

I was luck enough to be asked to review a book as part of A Love Affair with Books on Joyful Jubuliant Learning.  Check out my review along with tons of other great reviews and information.

iPhone Outlook Email a Bad Thing?

Apple recently announced that they will be bringing Outlook email to the iPhone.  Half of me was saying, "It's about time!" - the other half of me was saying "Crap".  For years since the Treo 600 came out I have been hooked on email.  Email is one of the biggest stressors ever created.  In December my iPod and Phone died within a week of each other (My wife thinks I threw them both on the ground).   

So I reluctantly bought an iPhone.  I was hesitant mainly because it did not get my work email.  The first day with the iPhone I was going through withdrawl.  I felt like I did not know what what going on because I would not see email.  Over the next week I felt a ton of freedom from not being attached to email.  So when Apple announced Exchange I was disappointed because that detachment from email is soon going away.  I am very picky about gadgets and phones and if my iPhone broke I would go drop $400 in a minute to replace it.  It is hands down the best phone/device I have ever owned.   

That is a reality of the world we live in today.  People have to learn how to balance technology and the stress it can create.  They are some of the greatest productivity and connectivity devices but the human race is not designed for this much stimulus.

A Night Off

  My wife and I were debating when the last time we did this. We are out of town without the kids for the first time in over a year. It is my wife's birthday tomorrow so we came up to skamania lodge about an hour from our house. It is amazing how relaxing it is to just get away from the house. You don't worry about all of the things you should be doing because you can't do them. We have two girls - 4 and 2. I don't think we both slept through the night in 2 years. A 24 hour recharge is just right at this point given work has been hell for over a month and I have been trying to keep up with my MBA. Who knows what is next at work be school is over in June. A massage, hot tub, nap, reading a magazine by the fireplace - it has been. A good day. Time for a much needed night of sleep.