Msg # 6564 Date: 06 May 94 08:20:00 From: Bob Johnstone To: All Subj: RELAX TO THE MAX ____________________________________________________________________________ (RELAX TO THE MAX, part 6 of 9) Many have stated when I posted this series of messages, "but I don't have any good memories" or words to that effect. But, that is because they think I mean "spectacular memories" that are good, we all have a LOT of small or ordinary pleasant memories that will serve to create emotional and physical healing. So many, they are commonplace, so we dont _think_ of them as being the type that will help us, BUT even the simplest of memories have GREAT HEALING POWER . . . if we spend time thinking about them. Actually, I would bet 1000 to one you have had more than a few of them. [grin] Use any memories similar to these that follow even if you cant recall "Peak Experiences." Just take some time right NOW, and THINK about whatever memories come. TIMES that you have experienced or seen and felt the following things: Watched the moon rise. The last flecks of sunlight on a lake. Heard a small music box. Listened to favorite music with headphones. Had a rich chocolate drink. Drove along the seacoast or in the Mountains. Went to a Zoo. Listened to a canary or parakeet. Ate French toast or Belgian Waffles and even good Pancakes. Smelled delicious food cooking in a favorite restaurant. Drank coffee with cinnamon sticks. Hot Apple Cider with cinnamon sticks. Had a COLD glass of cider or other favorite drink. Woke in the morning on a day you did not have to get up, without an alarm clock or any disturbing noises, but felt so comfortable or relaxed you just lay there dreaming. Had a special omelet. been in a quiet place broken only by the ripple or stirring of water. listened to the crackle of a campfire or fireplace and watched the flames. Had a favorite toy as a child. Enjoyed watching a child or kitten playing. Watched a cat running 30 miles an hour, skidding around the corners. Had a dinner with flickering gaslight or candles. Passed "notes" in school. Were laughing when having dinner with a friend. Eating Strawberry shortcake or German chocolate cake and other favorites Spent time Thinking about true lasting values. Listened to a church bell pealing in the distance. Read a poem or wrote one. Physical feelings experienced after just the right amount of exercise. Kicking off you shoes and splashing in water or walking across grass. Drank Pepsi or Coca Cola, and Cold orange juice when your throat is dry. The cool underside of a pillow on a hot day. Feelings of security or comfort and confidence. Browsing thru a country store. Walking thru a park or the woods. Ripe peaches. Raisin sauce on baked ham. Candy Canes. Pure Silk. Feelings of anticipation. Watching squirrels. Roast Turkey. Maple syrup. Touch Football. Homemade pies. Mexican Music. Brandied Cherries. Getting a note S.W.A.K. (Sealed with a Kiss.) Bright colors. Wind chimes. Steak with mushroom sauce or mushrooms sauteed in wine. Strawberry Jam. The biggest smile in the world. Feeling like a child who mastered a new experience, like roller skating or riding a bicycle and swimming... An interesting person. Life Savers. Soft cotton sheets. Fresh Breezes. Raiding the Frig. Apricots. Nectarines. Any fresh fruit. Things which fortify the spirit. Friendship. Trains. Walt Whitman. Pizza. Big Juicy Hamburgers. Cheesecake. Big Homemade muffins. Ice Cream. The Sea smashing on a Rockbound coast. Sunsets. Sunrises. Laughing at yourself when you have done something funny. Hot chocolate. Saying YES, when you WANT to say yes. The song "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys or similar songs. Hot fudge sundaes. Blackberry Ice cream. Having your lunch in the park. Lighting created by the skies, clouds, and the moon. Good feelings when friends meet. One Fantastic Lover. Gourmet coffee. Milky Way candy. Soft Music, enspiring music, country music, rock music, classical music, jazz, rap, bluegrass, you name the music and I love listening to it..... Doing something with a flair or sense of fantasy. Going to sleep with a line thru everything on a to-do list. Saying "No Problem, and meaning it." Frolicing with a puppy. Being silly. Sailing. Wind Sailing. Power boats. Rowing. Water Polo. Volleyball. A three year olds imagination. Stuffed Toys. Feeling thankful for anything. Boys yelling while playing games. Clear Mountain air. Starting to save. Bright Yellow Dresses. The smell of the Sea. Going to three movies one day. Jumping over puddles. Chocolate Milkshakes. Christmas Carols. Stretching. Visiting an old playground you played in years ago...... Breathing deeply. Being head over heels in love. Chanel No 5. Georgio. Musk perfumes. Collecting rocks on a beach. Riding your Bike. Watching Joe Namath. "The essense of humor." Thinking "happy thoughts." Walking the dog. Window shopping. Browsing thru the tool section at Sears. Winter vacations. Acting Goofy. Chocolate frosting. Curveballs. The feel of satin. The sound of an organ, especially huge pipe organs, music to Rollerskate. Getting away from it all and relaxing. Learning to like yourself. Cheap thrills. Soft leather. Dogs leaning against your legs. Falling asleep to the sounds of nature. Finger painting. Hopskotch. Kick the can. Tag. Hide and go seek. Wearing cans on your shoes to make sounds like horses walking in the street. Ghost stories at slumber parties. Working hard and getting paid for it. Flying Kites. All Beef Hot Dogs. The smell of new mown Hay. Haywagon rides. Sleigh rides. Hula Hoops. Spinning full skirts or square dancing skirts and square dancing...... Art exhibits. Museums. Science Museums. Arboredums. White churches. Raggedy Ann or Andy. Fresh French Bread. Swiss chocolate. Making toast. Getting something you wanted for a long time. Strings of red peppers. A&W Root Beer in frosted Mugs on a HOT day when your throat is parched. (I had been driving across the desert for hours in the 40's when I saw my first A&W stand, stopped and got a large mug, thought I was in heaven...) Learning to do something well with a computer. Feeling you mastered using a comm program or learned how to navigate around a BBS and interesting messages. Making a unique contribution. Bar-B-Ques. Playing in Sprinklers. We could go on forever listing pleasant memories, if we spend all day thinking about depressing things, we will feel depressed. If we spend only ten minutes once or twice a day thinking about such memories, it can change your life in ways you would never believe possible til you tried it. You can learn to See things or memories and your life with NEW eyes. The time spent doing so, will bring more benefits than you might imagine! Think about the DIFFERENCE in the way you feel NOW, and the way you felt before you began reading this list or thinging about whatever memories that came to you......IMAGINE how much better you could feel, if you practiced recalling similar memories - daily! (continued in part seven) --- FLAME v1.0 * Origin: For PTSD or Emotions & Physical HELP 714-525-1706 (1:10/25) PATH: 10/25 103/501 121 3615/50 138/103 1 352/3 410 03