Posted on 08/16/24
Although it is not a federal holiday, August 15th is officially coined as the annual National Relaxation Day; a day that encourages the people of the world to slow down and unwind. To quote the National Day Calendar website, “It is a day to focus on taking care of ourselves and take a moment to relax. National Relaxation Day is an important day as we all need a break from the fast-paced and often hectic lifestyles we live. Taking time to recuperate and rejuvenate our tired minds and bodies may help prevent many health risks, too.”
In terms of the history of National Relaxation Day, ironically enough, it was a fourth-grader by the name of Sean Moeller, who founded this day in 1985.
In the spirit of National Relaxation Day, which was celebrated this week, it is interesting to point out that the invention of the modern stress ball occurred a mere 3 years after the founding of National Relaxation Day.
In 1988, Alex Carswell, a television writer, invented the modern stress ball. The story goes that Carswell was so frustrated by a phone call, he hurled a marker at a framed photograph of his mother, which shattered the glass. Apparently, at that moment, he felt a great release of stress, and subsequently went on to invent a softer and safer toy that could help reduce stress.
The topic of stress and anxiety is a hot topic. At the end of the day (and perhaps at the beginning of the day as well!), life can be quite stressful. And yes, having an annual National Relaxation Day (which mind you, most people do not even know about) is nice, and utilizing the invention of stress balls is also a plus.
But there must be something more. There must be something – a lifestyle, a mindset, an attitude, etc. – that can help us live our entire lives with a heightened level of relaxation and a lot less stress. There is a powerful quote which I read that stuck with me: “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
The Hebrew word for worrying/stress/anxiety is דאגה. The Orchos Tzaddikim writes: הדאגה: זאת המידה היא רעה ברוב ענייניה והיא ניכרת על כל הפנים – Worry is a quality that is bad in all its manifestations and is easily recognized all people’s faces.
We all want to worry less. We all want to relax more. We all want stress free lives. If this is, indeed, what we want, then we must look no further than this week’s Parshah, in Chapter 4, Verse 4, where we are taught: ואתם הדבקים בה' אלקיכם חיים כלכם היום – And you, who cling to Hashem your G-d, are alive today.
While it may sound cliché, sometimes it is the cliché’s that are the greatest truth. The more we are connected to Hashem – the more we have Emunah in Hashem – the less worries we will have in life. Mind you, this is not an easy task. The Chofetz Chaim (in the name of R’ Shalom Schwadron) said that World War 1 would be a joke compared to World War 2, and World War 2 would be a joke compared to World War 3, a war which will be על האמונה בה' – a war on Emunah!
It is clear then, that the more the world at large is becoming more stressed out, worried, and anxiety driven, the more we – as yidden! – must combat this trend with our דביקות בה'.
Let’s work on our Emunah. Emunah. And more Emunah!
Have a holy Shabbos!