A-Life BC Travel Blog

5) Eat a Raisin

Seriously, go with me for a minute on this. Grab a single raisin and sit down. Now close your eyes and put the raisin in your mouth. Hold on! Don't start chewing yet. Let the raisin move around your mouth for a moment and just feel its texture.

It may be right about now that you start wondering to yourself if you have ever really tasted a raisin before. Now slowly bite into said raisin and roll it around in your mouth, eyes still closed. Go through the whole experience of chewing and tasting this neat little treat and see how you feel after. I've had large groups of people report massive relaxation after one raisin.

The process of slowing down and tasting our food, quite meditatively, relaxes the nervous system at an expeditious rate.

4) Rent a Childhood Movie

Remember a movie that you adored when you were a child, one that made you feel all warm and fuzzy? For me this might have been "The Last Unicorn" or "The Secret of Nymh." Turn off your cell phone and your alerts for email during your hour and a half vacation, and make a big bowl of popcorn. It's amazing how cellular and experiential a movie can be.

Recently I forced my God daughter to watch Jim Henson's "The Dark Crystal," which was just as entrancing for me as when I was a child, and bored my friend's daughter to dealth... which was also kind of a riot. It certainly put me in touch with a happy moment in time. I felt as if I was watching my seven-year-old self watch it while experiencing it again for the first time. This is great relaxation.

3) Blow Everlasting Bubbles

Isn't science great? How beautiful are bubbles? They are perfect and spherical, shiny and reflective, but they burst so quickly—thus the saying, "Who burst your bubble?"

Well, now no one needs to ask. Brilliant scientists, perhaps a think tank built from minds all over the globe, created bubbles that don't burst. Dollar stores everywhere carry them. So you can wander outside and blow bubbles and watch them float up into the sky out of view. Name them, label them as your stressors, sing to them... whatever you find most relaxing.

I like to wander into the city and find a perch where no one can see me, and watch the reactions of people as bubbles float down to them. Often it's pure whimsy on the faces of strangers, and it can lift even the harshest of moods.

2) Smile at Strangers

When we perceive goodness in the world, we feel more apart of it. It is amazing to me how friendly and lovely people are. Even when someone gives me a scowl, I will continue to give them a light smile—nine times out of 10, that scowl won't last.

It's human nature to mirror emotions. This is why we feel sad when we watch a sad movie and smile when we see people smiling in a movie. Have you ever noticed that you laugh more when there is a laugh track on a show? Take note.

So not only does it feel great when you make someone smile, but also when they do, you can't help but smile back. If that wasn't enough to make you try it, smiling lowers your blood pressure, bolsters your immune system and releases endorphins (natural pain killers), and serotonin.

1) Write a Thank-You Note

When we write pen to paper, we access our subconscious mind. Often taking a moment to write feels unnatural initially; however, when we put that pen to paper, something strange happens. Natural emotion and gratitude springs forth.

Getting in touch with gratitude invites it to occupy a larger space in our life. One thank-you note can improve your day significantly. If you are not feeling especially grateful—which if you are stressed, you may not be—try writing a note to someone who did a small gesture for you. Sometimes a note to a hairdresser, a dentist or a vet can be the perfect fit. I swear this is habit forming. Try it once and see if you don't feel a little more relaxed for it.

So I dare you to find something relaxing in this list and try it on for size.

Next week, we are back to enjoying the world of wine and cuisine. As always, I enjoy your emails and stories, so keep them coming.

- Photos & text by Holly Rose©