Skip to main content

Unwinding from the Tangles of Stress: Meditation, Running, and Gaming

Today was a whirlwind of tension, beginning with an anxiety-inducing co-parenting counseling appointment. To add to the strain, a complex problem at work presented itself as an unyielding puzzle, contributing another layer of stress to my already fraught day.

In search of solace, I turned to my meditation practice, hoping to find balance in its calming repetition. When a single session didn't suffice, I doubled down, giving myself over to the practice a second time. Seeking further release, I laced up my running shoes and set out with Goat, my loyal companion, for a run that I hoped would clear my mind as effectively as it would energize my body.

However, it wasn't until the responsibilities of work and the weight of the appointment had lifted that I truly found my escape. I delved into the virtual worlds of video games—a realm where stress and reality dissolve into pixelated adventures. Today, I lost myself in the creativity of Tsunami's Mario Maker level, then transitioned into the competitive intensity of Fortnite, followed by the soothing rhythms of Coral Island, reminiscent of the beloved Stardew Valley.

Video games offer a diverse palette of escapism, from the nostalgic embrace of classic titles on the virtual console to the innovative twists on time-honored formulas like those in Mario Maker. In these digital landscapes, I find respite, a temporary haven from the day's pressures.

As the screen lit up with vibrant colors and familiar sounds, the tightness in my chest eased, and the knots of stress unraveled. It's on days like this that I'm especially grateful for the variety and comfort that gaming provides, a welcome distraction from the complexities of co-parenting, work challenges, and the relentless pace of daily life.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Poky Little Puppy

Sometimes Jupiter likes to read the classic Golden Book tale, The Poky Little Puppy before bed or nap time. This is another of many children's stories where the intended moral of the story seems to have been surpassed by a message that, I think, conveys the nearly the opposite message. The Poky Little Puppy is a story about five little puppies who dig a hole under the fence to go out for a walk in the wide, wide world. The fifth, poky, puppy is always behind the others. Eventually the poky little puppy smells the dessert that is prepared for the puppies each night. The four other puppies smell it too and hurry home while the poky puppy takes his time. The four puppies then eat their dinner and are scolded by their mother for digging a hole under the fence with the punishment being that they do not get dessert. Then along comes the poky puppy after everyone is asleep. He is met with no dinner but left over dessert, since the four puppies were not able to eat it. This scenario takes...

Kid on a Leash

Has anyone seen these kid leash products around? Sometimes I see them at the zoo, farmers market, or other crowded areas. If a company can make a product that will make a parent feel a little bit safer, there will always be people out there to buy it. When I see one, it reminds me of that scene in Rise of the Planet of the Apes when a leashed Caesar sees a dog on a leash and turns to Will and signs, "Am I a pet?" The idea of the product is that it will keep the child safe and nearby. It is designed to subside the fear that a child will run off or get abducted. I think that if someone is out to abduct a child during the few seconds when a parent is looking away, a leash is a very small deterrent, and likely, not effective. All the abductor would need is a nice pair of scissors or simply their fingers. The latch cannot be that hard to work. If anything, having a leash might give a parent a false sense of security causing them to pay less attention to the child. In that case it...

The Santa Lie

When I was young my parents followed a tradition which I imagine was passed down to them from their parents who received the tradition from their parents before them and so on for a generation or two before them. I am of course talking about the yearly tradition of deceiving their gullible offspring with myths of a jolly man who lives at the North Pole. I fell for it. They were fairly elaborate to the point of even having a man dressed up as a Santa come to the front door one year. This of course sparked my suspicion a little. Why the front door and not the chimney? Though I do not remember what it was, a satisfactory explanation was given and I continued to believe in it. Eventually I did finally figure it all out, mostly through ridicule from schoolmates and my 3rd grade teacher for still believing it. I did not take the news well. I did not understand that my parents, who regularly told me that lying is wrong and makes Jesus cry, would keep up such an elaborate and ultimately pointl...