THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS

According to John Donne, “No man is an island.”

As much as we might sometimes like to just hibernate in a cave, most of us don’t have that option. Living as part of a society requires the ability to work well with others whether at work, in the grocery story, the church parking lot, or on the drive to and from work. We have a basic expectation that everyone follows the rules.

But what happens when things seem to fall apart? The driver next to you cuts you off? The shopper beside you throws their single item on the checkout counter just as you approach with a buggy full of groceries?
 

Our initial reaction might be to give back exactly what we received. And while that might give you a fleeting moment of satisfaction, deep down, you’ll be disappointed with yourself and worse, you might possibly need that very person’s influence sometime in the future.
 

Remember the story of a family heading to Disney World, cut off just as they approached the entrance? The driver pounded on his horn, and flashed a hand gesture universally known to be rude and crude. Later that week it turns out the man who cut him off was the hiring manager for the job he applied for. As you may have guessed, he didn’t get the job.
 

In polite society, we learn to control our tempers, and perhaps even give the benefit of the doubt to people who might be rude to us. Why? Because our entire world revolves around relationships. Every interaction we have with another human being depends on a relationship built somewhere.
 

Many people are having trouble finding work today. Those who do find jobs discover that it depends on who they know to get them in front of a hiring manager.
 

The use of basic manners makes everyone’s life easier. But the deeper issue is the development of relationships. With all the computer systems that answer our customer service calls, most people indicate that they would much rather talk to a human being.

The next time you have the inclination to just blow your top, remember that everyone is a human being, and might need your compassion. Or they could be that hiring manager who will remember your behavior in the Disney World parking lot.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

YUMMY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Ingredients: 

4 cups sweet potato, cubed 

1/2 cup white sugar 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

4 tablespoons butter, softened 

1/2 cup milk 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

1/3 cup all-purpose flour 

3 tablespoons butter, softened 

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.

In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture. 

Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

STRESS AND YOU

It’s a fact of life. Stress. And in some cases, it can actually be helpful. Stress keeps us on our toes, forces us to think clearly, be ready for action, and even sets us apart from the rest of the crowd. When we can control our stress, we actually do quite well.

But, when stress begins to gain the upper hand, it’s not such a welcome guest in our lives. Stress changes our body chemistry, our cortisol levels, our ability to think, relax, even sleep. When stress is in control, we suffer.

The physical symptoms of stress include weight gain, inability to sleep, daytime lethargy, craving sweet, salty, and fatty foods, and begins to show up in our skin and hair. Stress causes our skin to be less supple and more prone to wrinkles. Our hair shows signs of stress in two ways, both of which can sometimes be irreversible. We lose the ability to have color in our hair and our hair turns gray. And worse, we start to lose our hair, both men and women see thinning hair that can be camouflaged for a while, but ultimately gains the upper hand.

How can we combat this?

The best answer is to handle the underlying issue.

What is causing our stress?

If it is something we can either handle, or take steps toward handling, that is the best approach.

But what if we can’t do that, can’t eliminate our major stressors?

Managing our reaction to stress is the next best step. How? The answer might seem to be oversimplified, but it is to treat ourselves well. Get enough sleep. Exercise. Eat well. Take whatever supplements we need to take.

And then we take it one step further.

In a world of instant everything, we have trained ourselves to respond immediately to everything. To overcome this, take time to spend in nature. It could be taking a long, extended hike in the wilderness. Get back to nature. No electronic devices. Just experience what the earth has to offer. If there isn’t time for such a backpacking trip, let’s scale it back. Is there a place you can walk surrounded by trees, or next to a body of water?

Research has proven that spending time daily in nature is one of the best ways to lower stress. Make it a priority to find that space in nature. Whether it is in your own back yard, or a local park, schedule time for you and nature. Your very well-being will thank you. So will your hair.