5. Tell a lot of stories. Budgets seem as exciting as an Excel spreadsheet. So, I'll tell them stories about what those line items mean to them and to Town employees. Whenever stories get told, emotion gets expressed. People like to think, to ponder, to evaluate, but not on a full stomach. So facts will be interspersed with many stories. Whenever you speak, unless at a funeral (and even there laughter heals sorrowing heart), get people to laugh.

6. Know when to speak up and sit down: Most people manage to listen for 18 or 20 minutes. Stomachs full of food washed down with a glass of wine causes minds to nod. So keep it simple by introducing your audience to what you will say, give them facts (lots of stories), and tell them what you said. Then end it with a purpose driven suggestion. Since our Town needs elected and volunteer officials, I may challenge them to volunteer or take out registration papers for next election. That ought to wake them up!

Finally, have fun; don't be overly confident if it goes well, or overly hard on yourself if it goes poorly. Every event provides an experience and each experience adds another dimension to your personality. Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD) wrote, "Speech is mirror of mind", so be sure to have something to reflect,. Oh, one last point, eat after you talk, and have a drink, if you want, when you get home.

I must confess not to having practiced it myself, but it sounds like what it’s controlling is that internal “chatter” that goes on, and emotions that come along with it, and I hear clients speaking highly of it.

SIMPLE DAILY CHORES

Someone told me other day how beneficial it was to her to do dishes by hand because it also involved warmth on her hands, and water. Gardening, which keeps chattering still and involves hands, is another way.

It may even work to keep feet busy, such as bicycle riding, or an exercise bike. Of course any kind of exercise is beneficial because of endorphins it raises, which may apply to all these things.

One client of mine relies on dancing when she’s stressed. She pictures way a child moves – all arms and legs, motions and expression – and she finds this a great relief, particularly combined with music, which is an extra help in stilling chattering brain and calming muscles.

TOUCHING WITH THE HAND

Research has proven that a massage benefits one who gives it as much as it does one receives it. Interesting isn’t it?

When we touch our lovers, hug our friends, rock our babies, and pull our children into our laps to read them a story, we are giving healing of touch.

ANIMAL COMPANIONS

When Amantha is stressed, she tells me she lies down on floor and pets her dog. She figures lying down on floor gets her out of frame of reference of her daily life … as it would for most of us.

Did you know that just being in room with a dog lowers blood pressure of ailing seniors, healthy college students, and a child reading. There’s a connection there you’re aware of if you have an animal companion. They’re a comfort to us, and hopefully we are to them as well, because they give us a lot.

In fact dogs and other animals are now being used for therapy of different types. There’s an Animal Volunteer Companion program where you can take your dog, cat, bird, or hamster to a nursing home, shelter, prison or other institution to bring all things that animals bring to those who are no longer able to be with animals on a daily basis.

Taking your dog for a walk brings great stress relief and also added factor that it can be a social experience. A dog is an instant topic of conversation and we feel at ease approaching someone with their dog to have a chat. Conversation flows freely. You’re also outdoors where things look different. Social isolation is a form of stress that can be remedied in this way.

Whether it’s painting with your child, doing needlepoint while you watch TV, going out to barn to do a little carpentry, planting broccoli, or giving your partner a massage, use those hands in quieting, repetitive tasks and watch stress levels go down! Touch your world. It will keep you grounded.