We are in our 27th week of pandemic life in the United States. We have record breaking unemployment in our country. Fires rage in the western US and fire season isn’t over. Hurricane season has brought five category 3+ storms so far and the season doesn’t end until November 30. We are 54 days from one of the most controversial presidential elections in American history.

That’s a short list.

There are the regular life stressors that are still happening as they always do. They can’t be overlooked: bills, tuition, flat tires, grocery shopping, adult children needing assistance, children at home needing help with school work we don’t understand (Common Core anyone?)

If you notice you’re tense (as I have done more than one time a day, several days a week since March) and your relationship with prolonged trauma is new, maybe it’s time to develop a collection of tension relieving helpers.

I call it my FUNctioning list.

Humor

photo: @hiker_royalty

Rest

Photo by Veronika Nedelcu on Unsplash

Connection

photo:  kevin-schmid on unsplash

Outdoor Adventure

photo: me, age 9 next to Merced River, Yosemite NP

Listening to

photo: me, having fun with lettering tea bag tab wisdom

Making

photo: Salvatore Ventura

Re-making

photo: Senjuti Kundu

Reading

photo: Ben White

Hobbies

photo: Brandless

Fun does not deny reality. Fun provides a break from reality that is legal and unharmful (most often!)

What is on your list for helping release tension?