ANXIETY TODAY: WHAT IF . . . ?

Anxiety today is nothing new, but plenty of new people experience it.

First it’s one thing, then another, until it’s everything all the time.

And it never slows down, never stops.

Then what?

Getting a grip on things including anxiety today could start with a list of things that bother you enough to hide from.

It could be family matters, work problems, money issues.

This is where the manly men pipe up with, “If you’ve got food, clothing, and shelter, get over it.”

These are usually the same men you see wallowing in their own version of anxiety today when they hit a glitch in their plans to take over the world.

I wouldn’t call them the ‘Fuck Around And Find Out’ crowd, but they can’t walk their talk very well.

What do they aspire to, a perfect life? It would be lots easier if life didn’t have other plans.

Listen to Les Paul. He loves music, believes in music.

Maybe you ought to love some music, then learn how to play it.

Go ahead and sing a song.

Les says you don’t have to be perfect so why would you?

Do I follow my own advice and walk the guitar walk?

Yes, I do. And I might be getting better at it.

 

Pablo Casals, the famous Spanish cellist who lived to be 97 years of age, when he reached 95, a young reporter threw him a question: “Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?”

And Mr. Casals answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.”

 

Walking The Walk With Your Real Face

Every day is a costume party if you look at it from that point of view.

The banker’s happy face taking your money; the doctor’s concerned face at your last visit; your dog’s tilted head.

Go ahead on put on your real face with anxiety today because you’re going to feel it.

I didn’t go to Hawaii with my real face because I had an appointment with Pearl Harbor behind the gates.

So I got a haircut and shaved off a bad-ass Fu Manchu.

For my high school reunion? Haircut and close shave, not the haired-out seventies look I admire when everything is clean and fluffy.

Let it go two days and I look like I live in the woods with stringy lanky hair and a greasy looking beard.

For Pearl Harbor I was showing my Commander friend respect; for the reunion I wanted to show classmates the same.

Instead of looking like the loser from Dating Game, a blissed out stoner, or a bullet dodged by my secret admirers (Hey Debbie), I showed my wife respect by getting cleaned up and presentable.

Husbands do that; more husbands should do that. Show your wife respect by your appearance.

It’s a two way street that adds up to Win-Win.

Make your real face your best face.

 

Land Line Anxiety Today

Prank phone calls?

 

Hello, do you have Sir Walter Raleigh in a can? Yes? Then you’d better let him out.

 

 

Stop me if you’ve heard this before:

 

Two hermits meet in town one day shopping for supplies.

Hermit 1: I’m thinking to have a party. Wanna come?

Hermit 2: Well I don’t know. I suppose. Okay, yes.

Hermit 1: There might be some drinking. That bother you?

H2: No.

H1: Could be some cussing. That bother you?

H2: Nope.

H1: What about fighting. There could be some fighting.

H2: Not against it.

H1: Well there could be some sex. You okay with that?

H2: I suppose. How many people will be there?

Hermit 1: Just the two of us.

Hermit 2:

 

Searching For Anxiety Today

 

I saw two Stones on Sunday morning shows, Sharon and Emma.

Sharon Stone talked about painting and aging in Hollywood; Emma Stone talked about anxiety strategies.

 

Lastly, Stone shared that she often copes with anxiety by doing what she calls a “brain dump.”

“I write down anything that I’m worried about—I just write and write and write,” she explained. “I don’t think about it, I don’t read it back, and I usually do this before bed so [these worries or anxieties] don’t interfere with my sleep. I find it’s really helpful for me to just get it all out on paper.”

Many mental health experts are big proponents of Stone’s worry journaling strategy for anxiety.

 

From Oprah to your Mom, people harbor anxiety about their weight, their body shape, and what to wear when nothing fits.

We see lots of talk about weight loss drugs.

The Big O has had lots of experiences she’s shared over the years, from diets, eating time, and exercise.

And she’s had the yo yo effect like so many others. Like me.

My last weight in competitive wrestling was 180 lbs.

The weight that showed when I stopped weighing myself out of shame? 280 lbs.

Yep, I’m in the 100 pound gainer club.

The weight I was at the start of cancer treatment? 260 lbs.

After cancer treatment? 199 lbs.

 

Wife: I found this picture of your dad. You look so much like him after losing all the weight.

Me: Yep, that’s him.

Wife: Do you know when it was taken?

Me: About three days before he died.

 

Today I clocked in at 242 lbs and heading down to the 220’s.

I’ve got a few things coming up that don’t need another fat man drawing comments like, “What happened to you?”

Is it easy? It’s never easy with so many good things to eat and drink.

Maybe I’ll take a weight loss drug? Not likely.

 

Here’s Why:

Growing up with older and younger brothers, playing high school football and wrestling, a year of college wrestling, and an All-Army Team tryout, a 3:30 marathon, and a Hood to Coast runner, the idea of being a Greek God, or looking like one, was never far away.

We would flex in a mirror and pretend no one was looking when we knew they were and say in amazement, “Just like a Greek God.”

And you know, some of us weren’t that far off. (Hey Mark, Hey Ron)

After packing on an extra 100 lbs it didn’t stop.

“I look like a Greek God who missed the vomitorium for a few years.”

 

Weight loss drugs come with a suggestion to focus on diet and exercise.

No science, no miracle drugs, nothing but the grind.

If you don’t like the grind, see your doctor.

However, if your anxiety today is getting the better of you?

 Make a list of the body parts you like most and find exercises that focus there.

Why not focus on the parts you don’t like so much?

Because you’ll see and feel results sooner on body parts you approve of and the parts you don’t like will tag along and get better.

Do you want to lose weight, gain better balance, and get stronger overall?

Then Ruck it.

 

There’s no denying rucking is an efficient workout.

The added weight on your back strengthens your legs and trunk, while simultaneously giving you a low-impact cardio session. These benefits increase when you add hills to the mix.

Heading uphill with a pack pushes your VO2 max, while going downhill challenges your stability and eccentric muscle control, according to longevity expert Peter Attita.

 

After rucking around, take off the weighted backpack and feel thirty pounds lighter.

Too easy?

Do like Tom Petty and do it for you; do like Franz and put on your real face on your real body.

More than anything, do the best you can and anxiety today might take care of itself.