I like to think of myself as being laid back. I take things as they come. I don’t worry a lot. I don’t anger easily. Work only stresses me out when there are more projects than there are hours (but I usually end up ahead, anyway).

Life is good.

Yet I always carry a lot of tension in my shoulders.

I try to relax my arms, but it doesn’t last long. I know sitting at a computer all day doesn’t help … but it’s around when I’m not working, too.

I think I’ve just always been this way. I remember a friend giving me a shoulder massage commenting on how tense I was, back when we were in high school. How stressed could I have been then? I guess I can’t blame the computer …

Some days, it kind of hurts my shoulders when I’m running – I can’t even relax while performing a relaxing activity! (I know not everyone will agree with me that running is relaxing, but it’s a great stress reliever!)

My office periodically has massage therapists to come in and give 15-minute chair massages. They were here this afternoon.

The massage therapist probably thought I was extremely stressed out. She kept having me take deep breaths and exhale slowly. They do two at time; the other therapist only had my co-worker breathe deep at the beginning and end.

I needed a lot more than 15 minutes. But I guess I also need to learn how to relax!