Love, Laughter and Let Go...

Real love is not an escape from loneliness, the real love is an overflowing aloneness. One is so happy in being alone that one would like to share — happiness always wants to share. It is too much, it cannot be contained; like the flower cannot contain its fragrance, it has to be released..

Nothing releases one's blocked energies as does laughter. Nothing makes one more innocent as does laughter..

And our mind exists in time, in fact mind is time; it exists in the past and the future. Wonder if we realize that time consists only of two tenses, past and future. The present is not part of time, the present is part of eternity.. So when I live in this moment and let go of the past and the future, there is nothing, not even cortisol.. :)

I'm British, so it might be obvious, but a nice cup of tea...

The L-theanine in a good cup of green [or black] tea can reduce cortisol levels and calm you down... Just go decaf. :)

for me, it's yoga, then yoga, then yoga

Shooting guns and destroying things in general is an excellent way to relieve some stress!

Yoga! Also, a good nights sleep. Spending time with friends. The quiet house when all are asleep. Being in nature. Rocking my sleeping 18 month old, like I am right now ;)

Sitting or sleeping with a purring cat on my chest or next to my ear. Somewhere I even read that it has been scientifically proven that a cat's purring can lower stress levels.

Cooking. Going for a long walk. Trail running through the forest. Waking up really early and riding my bike to the lookout to watch the sun rise. Life is good :)

Edit: and also, coming home and being greeted by my dog wagging her tail and tearing around the apartment in circles because she's so excited we're there to play with her again, that will make me laugh no matter how bad the day was.

Listening to some Bowie after a long day at the office while standing over my grill as a beautiful ribeye is cooked to perfection.

Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff.

Going to a forrest alone to gather blueberries and mushrooms. Thank god we still have relatively clean enviroment in north. Its good to be able to breath clean air low on toxins. Its impossible in many cities.

Nope, changing my answer. Seeing my 4 year-old sprinting across the day care playground screaming "Daddddddyyyyyy!" the second he sees that I'm there to pick him up.

A nice glass of pinot noir while sitting on my porch with my beautiful wife!

Hiking in the forest, far away from people, cars, concrete, etc. Trees, moss, birdsong, fresh air... ah, that's good.

Twice daily or as required.

It's hard to measure Cortisol.... You need to do it a multiple times a day and I think it's expensive++

I used to do work for a company called emWave - it's a biofeedback tool that measures your heart rate variability. You do sessions with it that I call "digital meditation". It's very cool and I use it all the time.

They had one study with 30 people using it for 30 mins a day for 30 days... their DHEA doubled, adn their cortisol decreased 26%. Pretty impressive.

Sleeping a full nights sleep. Going for a walk with family / friends. Standing by a river, lake or ocean.

Watching a nice sunset, or savasana at the end of a Bikram yoga class. Nearest studio is 1.5 hours away, so that one is a rare treat for me...

Currently it's playing euchre with some friends. I've needed it so much lately that I've played 4 out of the past 5 days.

And running. Definitely running. It's my escape.

Yesterday it was running followed by euchre.

Karezza Sex in the morning. Meditation

Lately it is art.

I am about to go see this 2 1/2 hour film in the theater called The Tree of Life for the sixth (!) time. It's hard to put exactly into words how it strangely settles me, the themes are so ominous, personal, universal, troubling, and also cathartic to see them play out so beautifully; essentially a family drama set against the cosmic backdrop of the creation of the universe and formation of all life. I feel grounded walking out of this film like no other I've ever experienced. I think a big part of it is there is no traditional story to be worried about, only sensations and poetic flow. I didn't know film could do this, this well. Malick is a genius. My cortisol subsides.

Breastfeeding or hopping around and making my little one laugh. He's a cheap date. :-)

William Ackerman, my two dogs.

Time with my wife and little ones and weight lifting.

Whether it's actually lowering my cortisol or not I have no idea, but it feels like it is! I plan on getting a cortisol test soon and then we'll see where I'm at.

starting my A.M. shift rotation at work; that first 5am walk to the bus stop is the most relief filled moment of the month for me.

Sex or other fun exercise till I'm all worn out, then lying flat and soaking in the peace and endorphins.

Curling up with a good book in front of a sunny window.

I don't know so much about the lowering of cortisol, but I do know what makes me feel better about life, and this probably has a physiological response. In no particular order:

1. Music. It's a beautiful spiritual thing, and can really awaken my senses.
2. My mate. We're social animals, and nothing makes my day feel closed and complete like coming home to my mate.
3. Food. Both eating and cooking. Again, a very sensory experience. I watch the fire, I cut the meat or veggies I scoop it with my bare hands into the pot, and I hear the sizzling. and I chant to myself as I do it.
4. Theatre. Being barefoot, moving my body (especially after years in a wheelchair), and knowing that I am on my way to making art.
5. Sunlight. Living in a city has been hard for me after being in the country. Sunlight through my window is very warm even in winter, and makes me feel great.
6. Barefooting. Anywhere, but preferably in the grassy forests and fields near my family farm. Feel the earth and feel alive.

Playing some sexy blues on my Fender Strat.

SUGAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being alone, outdoors. But in my dreams, the same with my dogs, alive again.

Inhaling that horsey smell wafting up from a well exercised beastie as we walk back home from a nice ride. It brings back many happy memories of my youth and, being on the back of a horse, has always been my favorite state of being.