friday.18.november.2022
inspiration station
stai tranquilla (be calm)
In Italian, one of my favorite phrases I hear my cousins in Sardinia, Italy, say is stai tranquilla ... be calm. It is a phrase that basically means: "it's all good" ... "it's okay" ... "don't worry" ... "no biggie."

They do not yell it excitedly - "CALM DOWN!!!" - or reprimand anyone with the phrase. It is said as calmly as its meaning. Soothing, in fact, just to hear the manner in which they use it.
On my way home from Sardinia in October, I witnessed a woman in the security line at the airport who obviously failed to learn that specific phrase in Italian as she vacationed abroad. As she waited for her baggage to exit the other side of the X-ray machine where Security looks inside our stuff to ensure we are not over the 3-ounce limit of face-wash and steals our toothpaste, she was literally freaking out. The culprit of her upset was a long line of backed up bins randomly pulled aside for a double-check.

The poor thing was absolutely losing it. She ran back and forth screaming to her husband several times, who was in a different line, "I'll never get my luggage! I'll never get it!!" - like a chicken without a head. She was stressing out herSELF and entertaining those of us waiting for our luggage to clear. We were calm, of course. :-D (I cannot imagine what her hubby was thinking about all of this - he probably wanted to crawl inside his carry-on.)

I would imagine the lady's heart was beating fast. She may have been sweating. It was clear she felt anxious. Stress takes its effect on us physically - it can certainly do a number on our bodies - which is why we should avoid it.

Snippeteers, can you think of a time when you flew off the handle ... LOST it ... FREAKED out ... YELLED, STOMPED, HIT YOUR DASHBOARD? And perhaps behaved as such unnecessarily? Maybe over a minor situation not worth investing in with your negative energy?

I am sure by now that woman is home and fine. So what benefits did she reap from such chosen chaotic behavior?

And what about us?

We ALL have been caught off guard by any of a hundred unwelcome petty circumstances. As I write, I was trying for 2.5 hours to get my Internet back up after it kicked me off in mid-sentence writing this piece. Was on the phone with customer service trying this and that, turning it on and off, resetting the router and laptop - and oh-my-gosh-HUFFIN'-n-PUFFIN' like The Big Bad Wolf in front of three pigs. (Well, we all know how tech stuff will drive us up the wall!) Got back online finally only for it to kick me off several more times - again, mid-sentence.

This is an example of a dumb stressful situation that had me feeling frustrated and anxious. I took pup Lupini for a walk to clear my head and ditch the negativity. (At least I stayed patient on the phone and didn't bark at Jeffrey, the customer service dude.)

Back to the airport scene, I suddenly wished for my cousins to be there to help that poor stressed woman to be calm ... stai tranquilla ... in their beautiful Italian language.

In circumstances beyond our control, what choice do we have but to remain calm? It may take some conscious effort on our parts, but we can do it. We can count, we can breathe, we can reign ourselves in, we can look and listen at/to our stupid behavior from outside of ourselves to see just how ridiculous we are acting.

So take this phrase with you, as we say in Italian ... stai tranquilla. Be calm.

stress relief
9 effective ways of dealing with stress
(excerpted from online)

ONE - Back out of the stressful situation if you can. Vacate the premises immediately! It’s better to wait until later or avoid it, unless it’s something you must deal with.

TWO - Stop. Take 10 slow deep breaths. Focus entirely on the breathing.

THREE - Pay close attention to the language of the conversation in your head during a stressful situation. Mostly, your mind is not on your side. As you're conversing with others during the situation, slow down your rate of speech and think about each word before it exits your mouth. Regretful things are often spoken during stressful moments.

FOUR - Identify persistent and recurring problems - and people - which induce your stress ... solve or avoid them. If there is a minor item that bugs you every day, such an annoying squeaky door, then oil the darn thing! Trivial things should not add to our stress.

FIVE - Take regular breaks from work and don’t discuss work issues with colleagues during a break. Take a walk, sit outside, listen to a favorite song. Do something different; that’s why it’s called a coffee break or lunch break.

SIX - Learn to let go of what is beyond your control. Watching the news report an upsetting incident over and over won't make it go away or change that is has happened. All it will do is mess with your mind and cause stress. Don’t watch the news if it causes you stress.

SEVEN - Practice love, compassion and forgiveness vs. harboring anger, resentment and jealousy. Look at situations from the other's point of view. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. It helps nothing to get up in the morning and pick up the same crap you went to bed with.

EIGHT - Your environment can affect your stress level significantly. If your house is a mess, it is much easier to fly off the handle at a situation than if everything was orderly. Keeping your environment tidy and clean will do wonders for your mood.

NINE - Learn to be mindful of your actions throughout the day. Be aware of changing situations, emotions and thought processes. This will help you to identify stressful situations as they arise.

snippeteer backtalk
"Great Snippet!"
~ Julia in Maryland

"Hello and a compliment are two great ways to make someone’s day."
~ Nancy in Maryland

"What a difference it makes! I get lots of smiles in return and that’s just fine with me! We all feel better acknowledging another human being! Keep up the good work, Suzanna."
~ Judy in Ohio

"Your optimism, enthusiasm and outlook on / for life are such a LIGHT. Can you imagine how many people have been blessed by you over the last 16 years? Wow." :)
~ All the best, Karen L in Maryland

"I love this! I do the same thing - always saying hi to people. In school, I stand outside my classroom and greet my students and often have a chance to reconnect with former students. So simple to say hi or good morning. It makes my day better, too!"
~ Karen R in Maryland

"16 years of incredible Friday SNIPPETS! There is always a 'take away' that nourishes the soul! Thank you and congratulations."
~ Blessings, Lesley in Edgewater, Maryland

"Well written. So much truth. At the end of the day those we touch will not remember what you say, they will remember how you made them feel!"
~ Cynthia C
snippets handy helper

"Even the smallest of our charitable efforts are crucial to the movement for worldwide improvement. Our pieces of compassion come together to create the sweeping changes that beautify humanity."
Snippeteers, we are once again approaching Thanksgiving and Christmas - two holidays which may be joyful for us, but not always happy, rich and blessed for many others in our communities who need assistance. I know we are all busy feeding and gifting our families & friends, yet please set aside some time to reach out to a favorite nonprofit organization or participate in a charitable project this season to help those you do not know.

Let's do what our MOMs
taught us to do ... SHARE!

prayer flares
FOR a friend during the removal of a neuro endocrine carcinoid tumor in her lower right lung

FOR Gloria's soul; FOR her two adult children, granddaughter, and husband Joe as they adjust and grieve; FOR her two sisters, Susan & Lorraine, so saddened to have lost her.

FROM snippeteer Lex: "Please pray for my husband to be well. Thank you."
pray clipart
"Thank you, snippeteers, for all your prayers! ... Thank you for asking for prayers for my niece, Katie, in her difficult pregnancy. Those intentions were answered in the best way - she delivered a beautiful baby boy last week and everyone is healthy. Thanks be to God and to this wonderful community for your prayers!" ~ Peace, Marian

good to giggle
queen of quotes
[from dailyOM.com horoscope]

Your self-image is a combination of your energetic vibration and physical form. It informs the world of who you are, what you think of yourself, and how you expect to be treated. If your self-image is not in alignment with your true spirit, your vibration will feel tired, shabby, and low.

Start getting what you really want - instead of settling for what you think you deserve. It's time to reinvent your self-image to emanate a positive, powerful and radiant presence.

Imagine your true spirit shaping the whole of your experience, creating lasting excitement, happiness and fulfillment. Believe it or not, you already hold the power to all this (and so much more). Tap into your internal energy.



SNIPPETS of inspiration
celebrating 16 years of Fridays

Ciao until you snippet again,
suzanna rosa
molino singleton

SNIPPETS creator
/writer /editor /author
/graphic designer