Published: April 02, 2009 09:08 am      

From the Publisher's Desk: In times of stress, seek out ‘me’ time

Everywhere I turn these days, I can’t seem to escape the tirade of news on the current economic climate, our state budget woes ... and the list goes on.

Certainly these issues impact all of us. We should educate ourselves and vocalize our opinions to friends and family, co-workers, communities and legislators.

But the constant doom-andgloom atmosphere can wear on you, and no one seems to have the answers. So what do we do about it?

Well, I don’t pretend to know all the answers, but I do know there needs to be a balance in our lives. So, my recommendation is to take time for yourself to relax and have fun.

Everyone needs an avenue to breathe in and exhale, to release the trials and tribulations we go through and return to a sense of normalcy, or at least a moment of peace.

I had the privilege of attending the Springbrook Gala 2009 titled, “What Do You Dream?” on Saturday and found myself smiling as I watched the honoree, Connor Gifford, cut a rug on the dance floor.

He is an extraordinary individual, and his energy was contagious. The mood of the evening was festive and joyful, and not only did the event benefit the Kids Unlimited Preschool, it also offered the guests an outlet to have fun.

Your pleasure may be to watch a sitcom or reality show, listen to your favorite CD, have a picnic at the park or call a friend to chat.

Maybe you’ll snuggle up with a book and participate in the upcoming Big Read, or take a long walk. A pedicure, sinful sundae or a long, hot bubble bath can do the trick.

The common theme is this: Take the time to unwind and do something because you want to do it, not because you have to. Life’s stresses will undoubtedly continue, but how we cope is essential to our well-being and sanity.

My life tends to get a little crazy! My work responsibilities and commitments, personal obligations and a 2½-year-old needing my attention and devotion don’t leave a whole bunch of time for Tanya!

My dream is to sleep past 7 a.m., but Hailey, the early bird, starts chirping at the wee hours of the morning.

We become so consumed that we, or at least I, don’t make it a priority to counteract the doom and gloom.

My excuses could be endless as to why I don’t have the time, but life is too short to miss out on the little pleasures that we all deserve.

The time change has added more daylight and the warmer weather is starting to roll in. I think we can start packing up the winter garb. Growing season is on the horizon, so the colorful landscape will return. The seasonal change always lifts our spirits _ almost a revitalization, if you will.

While we certainly can’t ignore our recent challenges, we can take back the reins. I plan to start with building “me time” into my daily routine, and I hope you can do the same. And now, smoking … Yesterday the price increased, making my dwindling but still bad habit sting a little more. Nothing new to report except that I am glad at this point I am not at two packs a day!

I hope the price increase helps to diminish the number of cigarettes or folks smoking longterm. For anyone who has made the decision to quit, you have my support and my compassion.

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Tanya Shalor is publisher of The Daily Star and may be reached at (607) 432-1000, ext. 214, or tshalor@thedailystar.com. Her column appears every other week.