Teachers, please ease your stress.

I slept about four hours last night because we had a major thunderstorm with sideways rain and near constant lightning.

It was a rough day.

I made it to my tax appointment on time and discovered I didn’t have all of the paperwork. I had to reschedule.

Then, at an appointment at the clinic, we learned that a close family member we accompanied may have cancer. Im glad we were there so that she did not hear that alone, but as someone who has heard that diagnosis twice, it suuuuucks. Ugh.

After that, I realized that in my haste, I messed up making an appointment for tomorrow at 1 pm that I cannot cancel without serious consequences—which means I cannot go to the home opener for the Detroit Tigers.

Fawk.

And good lordy, every time I glanced at the news it was not.at.all. good.

I did not have it in me to go to fencing tonight to train for the national qualifiers that are coming up on the 27th. I just couldn't do it.

So I came home.

It's after 9 p.m. right now. I am in a cozy sweater with cozy pants and cozy socks, cozied up with my Carter. I have a hot tea and a pastry.

We are watching The Princess Bride.

The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies.

It's one of the most quotable movies in cinema history.

Also, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Andre the Giant, Peter Falk…

Also, the fencing.

Which is not actual fencing. (Inconceivable!)

I can feel my spine loosening, my brain calming, my mind unwinding.

I urge you—find your thing.

Find whatever it is that makes you feel restful. A tea, a raspberry danish and a purring cat while watching a nearly 30 year old movie is my way.

Your way may involve a two-hour Call of Duty marathon.

Your way may be knitting a sweater while sipping wine.

Just to validate your feelings, no, it's not your imagination. It is as bad as it seems out there.

So, in here *points to heart* find your “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoyo. You killed my father. Prepare to die” shouting moment (IYKYK—eeeee!).

Figure out the things that, when you do them, make your heart say, *deep sigh* Yaaaasss.

Everyone can offer suggestions for what you ought to do to reduce stress—I just did!— but only you know where your whimsy lies.

Favorite line?

Wesley: “I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me?”

Buttercup: “Well…you were dead…”

W: “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while”.

B: “I'll never doubt again”.

W: “There will never be a need”.