Using Creative Writing for Stress Management

This article is about how I use creative writing as part of my daily stress management plan. For example Today was suppose to be my day to sleep in until l noon. However by 8am my life was filled with different forms of stress that others brought to my day. Finally by noon I knew that I had to do something creative to calm myself. Temper tantrums would not work, cursing was not an option,, putting a "No Solicitors "sign was not working. I thought perhaps putting a banner up that says, " Knock at your own risk."

First of all, I started my day with 3 hours sleep because some late July 4ther decided to use the rest of his firecrackers between 1am and 8am. Then suddenly, I was awakened by my dogs barking and displaying spiteful growls. I leaped up out of bed and ran out back in my pajamas to find a female utility worker had jumped my fence. She had ran around back to read my meter. I yelled out the window : Are you kidding Lady?
I immediately distracted my 120 lb bear dog mixed lab and very hyper angry Spitz mixed dog children with their favorite treats. She apologized promising that she or no one else would enter my yard when the dogs were out in the yard. After all, its on my record with the utility company that for safety they are to knock on my front door letting me know they want to read my meter. This utility worker continued to try to approach my dogs, they were escalating rapidly into fright stage and she laughed. " Lady", I said loudly and firmly, " I can not promise your safety when you jump my fence again. She refused to go through my gate and jumped the front fence to the sidewalk sending my dogs into a rage. Her action also irritated all the neighborhood dogs who were howling and barking in a "pack" mode with my two gods. I I was so mad at this point that I was going to put tack strips on the fence so that the next time she jumped it she would not be able to enter my yard. Then about the time I got both dog-children calmed the cow bell I use ,as a door bell, on the front door was clanging fast and loud. Immediately, both dogs and my cat are running back and forth barking and hissing at this noisy visitor.

I looked out the window keeping the front door closed only to see a nicely dressed male with a room refresher in his hands and smiling. He shouted at me" Are you the lady of the house?" I said NO, I AM THE OWNER, LEAVE NOW!" . "Well, can I talk to the lady of the house then?." he smirked. I pointed to the two bold shiny 8" lettered "NO SOLICITOR" signs, and said, Can you read and comprehend, the word,"NO!' He immediately started backing down the drive way as I opened my front door. By this time both my dogs advanced on my closed screen door growling with teeth showing. Okay, I thought that will be enough for today, the next person comes to my door must t have a Publishers Clearing House check for me or be in a devastating emergency or they will hear cursing, even I hate.

By this time its 9:30am. I have only slept a couple hours, loosing my patience with early rising soliciting fools who are at my door, jumping my fence, or have something to sell or preach. My stress technique at this point was kicking my freshened fluffed pillows to the floor and then down the hallway.. After all, I am retired , my adult children are in their 30's and 40's, my grandchildren are in their 20's and they don't call or come over to see me until noon. My next stress reliever was to I make some Cinnamon toast and a cup of vanilla flavored coffee, breathe deeply and then lay back down to get some sleep.

I felt myself drift off only to be alarmed by someone banging on my front metal screen door. I thought, it better be an emergency or they are going to get a swift kick anywhere I can make contact with them. I looked out the window and it was an elder gentleman, about 80 years old, with a cane, wearing a straw hat, and he has a pamphlet in his hand, smiling broadly back at me; threw the peep hole in my door. I threw open the metal screen door and said," Are you in crisis, emergency or need the police or ambulance?" He said, "No madam, I just want to invite you to my church meeting next month." I said, These signs have a purpose of " NO SOLICITING" I am not interested!!! He smiled and said," I am not a solicitor I am a religious teacher". Go away, I said. He took his hat off and bowed saying, "Have you found Jesus?" I said, " I did not know he was lost and even if he is lost, I am certain he is capable of finding his own way." I closed my door". He left. I went back to the bedroom and laid down. He returned less than ten minutes with a "friend" and knocked again. " I opened the side window and said," Either you both leave and never come back or I am going to find Jesus and he will tell me not to turn my cheek or have forgiveness for your rudeness; don't bother me anymore. "He and his friend said, "Well, here take this invitation maybe you will change your mind, honey. That's it, Buddy, I said. " Now, Get away from my home and me". He and his friend bowed again. I said," You have 30 seconds to get away from here or you will know Jesus face to face." Inside my head I thought about what to throw at them, perhaps the bag of cat litter but instead I slammed the door. After pacing for about 15 minutes to calm myself down, I laid back down, by this time it is 10:15 am . I feel like my head is going to explode and I have no patience.
left for anyone right then.

My next stress reduction was to turn on soft music and fall asleep on the couch, with the fan blowing on me to calm me down. I heard the phone ring several times but ignored it. I began to felt guilty with the "What if someone needs me guilt trip syndrome?" The fourth call came; I got up, looked at the clock and it was 11:00am; no name or number on the caller ID. So, I went back to my comfy couch to just rest a little more. Just as I sat down- another knock and more cow bell ringing at my door- it was the sweeper salesman again.
t I had called the city about he and his team members coming 3 times last week. Each and every time they come to my door they ignore my no solicitor signs and keep trying to get me to fill out a coupon to win a sweeper.
"READ THE NO SOLICITING SIGN BUDDY!!!!!!!!. His reply was," I just want a minute of your time." I replied "Get your dumb sweeper and non- reading butt away from my house or I am calling the cops to remove you." They left.
I was not thinking clearly as it was now 11:30a.m and my temper was rising, my stress level running over and no sleep building my mountain of stressors to the top to blow. I was done with others disturbing my sleep." Then the phone rang, it was the "solicitor" with no name or number on the caller ID. I answered the phone and said, "Hello, you have reached the Criminal Forensic Unit and we now have your number and name posted on the bulletin board as some one who wants to befriend serial killers next Sunday at Visitation at 4pm. "Thanks:) " They hung up faster than they called. I turned to walk away from the phone and stepped into a "waste pile left from my dogs due to their high stress. Their stress was very high also as they had barked, ran through the house, and then when nothing worked to help their stress they did their yard business in the house. Even they had to have a stress reliever. I felt sorry for them and spent time cleaning up the mess, let me outside. I chose different ways to reduce my tension such as by expressing my feelings verbally by telling it like it is, threatening others with animal feces and litter, screaming, kicking pillows, toast and coffee, soft music but nothing was working. Instead of trying to sleep I put ear plugs in and put my feelings in this creative writing article. I have changed my "NO SOLICITORS'!!!!!!!!!!! professional sign to one that is not so nice so I won't put it in this article. Creative writing helps me reduce my anger and hurt feelings that build in frustration and as I finish this article review and editing I realize just how important self expression in creative ways is to me.

Okay, creative writing worked and I am going to bed with ear plugs:) Good night and sweet dreams its 11:10pm