Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-13
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceueH
SECOND STREET:


Dear sir:
Much is being said these DAYS on
the art of relaxing We are told what
to do to untangle our jittery, wartime
nerves. Many people read such articles,
but seldom put them into practice.
L am one who decided I needed
just such measures and / thought I
was intelligent enough to follow the
rules. am busy housewife, SO today
I hurriedly got all my chores done, so
that at 3 pm. was already to relax.
Il had read all the rules carefully.
and was armed with the proper ma
terials, for it seems real relaxation
today is quite involved. I checked over
the ist-eye pads dipped in cool
cologne, to lay on each eye, while lying
down perfectly fiat in a quiet room.
Just forget everything and let YOUR
self co. the book said That sounds
easy enough. Why, there is really
nothing to this business, thought I.
"Ah, the eye pads do feel soothing
they make me drowsy, but I wonder
if this is really good for your eyes;
1t burns and smarts little.
Now let me see. Oh, yes, the we'd
ding, James great day, just two weeks
away. viii I ever get everything ready
in time, I wonder. Is Jane too young
to wear ivory satin? Maybe tulle and
net would have been better, and that
veil-it looked little crooked yesterday!
will Bill be able to get into that blue
suit? He has taken on little weight.
And where will We put Aunt Jenny if
she decides to come at the last minute?
Will she send Jane the check we hoped
for, or some awful wedding present?
Weddings are really trying on the
brides mother. I'm really sorry /
planned all this, but, then, girl wants
nice wedding to remember all of her
life.
But I must quit thinking and relax
that's what the book said, Let your
mind go blank
II wonder if there's enough leftover
cake for supper. Perhaps I could put
a cream sauce over it, and, declare,
meat is SO scarce. What's that, the
CLOCKS o'clock, and haven't even
begun to relax!
I've got to hurry right down and
start supper. Tomorrow I will get that
book out again and really learn how
to relax. Sincerely, H. F. B."
That's about the way it goes.
Or the telephone or doorbell rings.
There is no relaxation unless both
mind and body are involved.
Even If the many muscles of the
body are relaxed the effort is useless
If the mind continues to think of all
the affairs of the day.
So it is a good thing to begin re-
taxation by filling the mind deliberately
with simple thoughts, such as some
good phrase, just few words
Say these over and over. While say
ing them, mentally, not aloud begin
the relaxation of the muscles.
The point is that when total relaxa-
ton is secured in the muscular system,
it begins to have an effect on the mind.
If complete and absolute muscular re-
Taxation could be secured, it would au-
tomatically wipe thoughts out of the
mind. But even in sleep absolute re-
Taxation is seldom attained.
Muscular relaxation is secured by use
of the mind, by thinking of each part
in turn. The key points are the eyes,
the back of the neck, the mouth and
throat. One must think of these, and
let the muscles go time after time, al
ways coming back to them. Then all
the other muscles are mentally and
physically relaxed, beginning with the
toes.
This Is the conscious relaxation of
the books. and 1t really works, with
practice. The going over Of the muscles
by thought usually keeps other thoughts
out of the mind, but If it does not, some
phrase, such as Sunshine and happi-
ness" will be necessary.
We are so used to muscular effort
that even partial relaxation of the
muscles begins to blank out the mind.
And making the mind blank begins to
relax the muscles. 1t Is just the oppo-
site OF the famous vicious" circle.