I still like my job. But some days, I become convinced that the world is full of reprobates who literally have nothing better to do than gripe about everything that everyone else does without regard to motivation or intent, but simply to the needs and desires of their own precious little lives*.
*For the record, this is written out of momentary frustration. Many of my coworkers have to deal with situations that would be difficult for anyone: broken families, abuse, overuse of drugs and alcohol, etc. While I'm a firm believer that there's no excuse for being a jerk, sometimes there are extenuating circumstances, and on good days, I'm better at remembering this and thinking better of the people I interact with.
On days like these, I need some serious detoxification, as I've come to refer to it. Detoxification is a big topic in health and wellness, but my methods go beyond diet. So, while I do not suggest that everything here will work for you as it does for me, I present Crystal's Guide to Detoxification.
1. Yogi Detox Tea. For the record, I don't know if this tea actually medically does anything to rid your body of toxins. But it says it does, and I trust herbs more than I trust most medicines. Plus, the blend is dark and spicy like chai and it certainly feels cleansing, and even if it is a placebo, it's better than nothing. I also love the "fortunes" that Yogi puts on each teabag. Today's read "Share your strengths, not your weaknesses," and one that I got a few weeks ago I actually tucked into my work nametag to remind myself: "Speak the truth."
2. The Italian Combo sandwich from Panera Bread. Yeah, I doubt a full half-pound of deli meat is detoxifying, but if you need something to sink your teeth into, buy this sandwich. You will not regret it. The thing is huge, and absolutely jam-packed with roast beef, turkey, salami, and cheese. It's serious comfort food after a long day of customers you wish you could sink your teeth into.
3. The Ordering of Love by Madeleine L'Engle. I'm still working through this book of poetry I got for Christmas, and it's wonderful. Every time I open it, I find something that resonates with my own thoughts and emotions. It's been especially helpful as I go through a time of searching and questioning in my faith, joining a new church body and trying to meet fellow believers. Madeleine knew the joy of salvation intimately, and she expresses it so innocently and jubilantly that it wins you over.
Help me forget the cold That grips the grasping world. Let me stretch out my hands To purifying fire, Clutching fingers uncurled. Look! Here is the melting joy. My heart beats once again. --L'Engle, "The Winter Is Cold, Is Cold"
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation. This is probably an idiosyncrasy of my special brand of nerdiness, but Star Trek is the ultimate entertainment escape for me. It's a world where humans have achieved a new form of civility, and nothing--time warps, alternate universes, holograms, forcefields, androids, advanced medicine, new species--is impossible or beyond the imagination. God bless Netflix.
5. Music, of course. My de-stress music usually takes the form of songs that start slowly and build to a climax. The swelling sound is cathartic as I let it express what my own words and thoughts can't. Examples include: - Glósóli by Sigur Ros - The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades... by Sufjan Stevens - When Your Mind's Made Up by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglová
Comments (1)
Too bad there's no Panera in Warsaw. And yes, Netflix is from God. It's helped restore my sanity many times.