Wanted: Relaxation

What’s more appealing than being laid back in a lounge chair with no worries except for a good book or maybe even some fruity concoction? Nice visual, right?

Relaxation is nice if or when you can come by it. Of course everyone has their own idea about what is relaxing. When I visualize what it must feel like though, I picture some beach in the middle of sky blue and white sand with absolutely not a thought on my mind. Relaxation, any form of it, is something that proves elusive to me often these days (some would argue always).

Relaxation requires certain key elements that I don’t think I possess.

A few years ago I thought maybe I could try getting a massage to help relax. Everyone praises this activity as a high form of relaxation. I didn’t feel any shade of relaxation during the experience. I was told that I had difficulties relaxing several times during the hour massage. Tell me something I don’t know. Every summer I go to the spa to get a facial. It’s one treatment I thoroughly enjoy even though every year I’m told that I am tense and unable to relax.

So why does relaxing prove so elusive?

For starters, I never do one thing at a time and relaxation requires doing absolutely nothing. As I write, I will have the television or music going. I will also be reading Facebook or Twitter at the same time. I will read a book while I eat a meal or have a conversation while I drive. My multitasking activities are endless. If I’m not multitasking, I feel as if I’m not doing enough.

This past week I decided to try the massage again. Mindy and I went to Revive spa for facials and massages. The experience this time around was much more relaxing than it was years ago. But the whole time I actually had to concentrate on relaxing. How is telling myself to relax relaxing exactly?

Hence the second problem contributing to my inability to relax is remaining still. Considering that even sleep is elusive most nights because my thoughts will not stop wandering, the daytime with all its distractions is impossible. There’s a type of writing point of view called stream of conscious. No one would want to read even a ten minute transcript of my conscious thoughts as they are worse than a toddler hopped up on sugar.

Obviously, relaxation is an issue. I can’t even take a vacation that I just enjoy the experience. I typically take my children to amusement parks where I have to wait in line which causes endless frustration. Once I tried the beach and the lack of activities to multitask drove me crazy.

I’m going to try though. Vacation this summer here I come. Hmm… I might have to take up meditation or maybe someone can offer another great idea.