How Heavy Is Your Glass?

I received this in an email from a friend:

A young lady explaining stress management to an audience confidently walked around the room with a raised glass of water.  Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question...'Half empty or half full?'  However, she surprised everyone by inquiring, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 ounces to 20 ounces.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't really matter.  It depends on how long I hold it.  If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.  If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm.  If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.  In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."  She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.  When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding our stresses longer and better.  So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night.  Relax, then pick them up later after you've rested.

Life is short. Enjoy it.

Five years ago today: New Thing #101-- Say Cheese!