The day wasn't going well already. You know how it is, you wake up in the morning with that migraine or the pounding headache in the back of your head. The kids are up at the crack of dawn (literally) and they keep coming into the bedroom to "help you" wake up. You fumble your way down stairs to a screaming chorus of, "Daddy, she won't quit looking at me!" And then you have the old reliable "Hey! That's my stuff!" And what are those comments without Back-up Plan 'B': "Hey! That's my spot!" was bellowed out as the kids fought over the fluffy pillow in my office while watching Little House on the Prairie.
Now don't get me wrong, my kids are great and I love them with all my heart but they do have their days. ;)
I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I fixed my morning lifeline, a steaming cup of Joe (which was destined to be spilled all over my desktop, keyboard and carpet!). After cleaning up the mess, I headed back into the kitchen but stopped half way there to remove the tiny doll shoe embedded in the bottom of my bare foot. The kids were at it again. That was it! I was at the boiling point and I could not tolerate this any longer!
I limped into the kitchen and there they were?lined up like little soldiers waiting to be disciplined. They looked as if they longed for, no, were begging for the stern discipline that they had coming?the bag of flour, the sugar bowl, and the salt shaker.
I threw the ingredients together in a powdery fury to the chorus of a clanking, ceramic bowl. There it was. The sun peeked through the partially drawn shades in the kitchen, gently embracing the soft, pale contents of the mixing bowl. The dough stared back at me, yearning to be thrown, rolled and disciplined.
I picked up the gooey substance and slammed it on the countertop! Pounding, pushing, pulling and kneading until it begged me for the rolling pin. I glanced at the built-in drawer under the oven and quickly produced a rolling pin. Without mercy I rolled, bunched up, and rolled again until the dough cried out, "I've had enough!"
For the 'Coupe de Gras', I placed the submissive heap in a bread pan and threw it into the oven. "There now", I said to the unbaked loaf. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Forty-five minutes later I was rewarded with a delicious, toasted aroma that crept through the house like fog on a cool morning. Peace at last. The stress was gone. I felt great.
Next time you are stressed out, walk into the kitchen (or limp if you must), grab the bag of flour and its companions and administer a little discipline. You'll feel better and be rewarded with a delicious, healthy treat!
Terry Stokely is a twenty-five year veteran of the baking industry. After being permenantly laid off in December of 2004, he enjoys spending time with his family and promoting his new ebook Home Baked Goodness with Bread, Rolls and Muffins. The new ebook, which he co-authored with his wife Dawn, can be found at http://www.homebakedfavorites.com
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareInsomnia is usually the result of the modern way of... Read More
Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
It's no secret that we women, by virtue of our... Read More
One of my favorite stories about change is the story... Read More
Looking for all of the answers in how to manage... Read More
"Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the... Read More
Let's take a look at some of the more serious... Read More
After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
Have you ever considered sewing a handbag as an act... Read More
What is Stress?Stress may be defined as the three-way relationship... Read More
Several studies, including one of medical students around exam time,... Read More
I hear from many people that they see ever increasing... Read More
The future is nothing but a fantasy or a daydream,... Read More
We are not designed for long term stress.It causes us... Read More
Here's a fun little experiment:Take a few seconds and look... Read More
Are you a "worry wart?" Is that term familiar to... Read More
Health Impacts of StressStress is a funny concept, try to... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
The United Nations declares workplace stress to be a worldwide... Read More
There are times in every person's life when things do... Read More
For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More
Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More
THE ENCHANTED SELF? teaches you how to access positive states... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..Aromatherapy is very therapeutic when it comes to healing emotional... Read More
Q: Someone told me that the Chinese symbol for crisis... Read More
"Do you want to be a lump of coal or... Read More
Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More
Looking for mindfulness? Who ya gonna call?Try dialing M.It's easy... Read More
The World Health Organization calls stress "the health epidemic of... Read More
Imagine going through your whole life in the constant fear... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
One of my favorite stories about change is the story... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good... Read More
THE ENCHANTED SELF? teaches you how to access positive states... Read More
Did you ever feel like your "get-up-and-go" got up and... Read More
My grandmother, a feisty and athletic woman in her younger... Read More
Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and... Read More
"Slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make... Read More
Over the years I've collected scores of comics and cartoons... Read More
Don't wait to have a life-threatening disease to learn what... Read More
Elizabeth, 32, cried during anger management class as she told... Read More
Learning methods of stress elimination is a vital skill in... Read More
Adversity is an unavoidable part of life. Death of a... Read More
Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More
All people experience stress and anxiety in one form or... Read More
This is the time for daydreaming about your annual vacation.... Read More
Do you feel that you just don't have the time... Read More
Stress Management |