Recipe for Stress Reduction

Tuesdays at Two Writing Teachers!

Teaching is exhausting and inspiring. It cracks your heart wide open and leaves your mind spinning. It has you running constantly on more cylinders than you even knew you had...

and it doesn't leave much room for recharging your batteries.

Even when you try, it's difficult to completely disconnect. Even if you find some downtime, there are students to worry about and new lesson ideas to ponder.

So how can we possibly keep ourselves sane? I found a pretty good recipe over the weekend:

Ingredients:

• wild, rolling, open spaces:

The view from our balcony at Pine Lakes Lodge!

• extraordinary encounters with friendly companions:

At The Wilds, these wild horses wanted to ride along!

At the lodge, Carl the Camel loves to make new friends... especially if they have chips!

• surprising discoveries and hidden secrets:

Who ever heard of a Takin?

The Asian rhinos are elusive and unique!

• a cozy sanctuary wrapped in luscious green and brilliant blue:

The lodge! <3 I didn't want to leave!

• and a step back in time:

Even though Husband gets to see John Glenn more than most people, visiting his childhood home was a treat!

Directions:

Combine all ingredients with a special loved one and mix for 30 hours, far removed from all sources of stress. Breathe deeply and keep your eyes wide open.