“Telling me to relax or smile when I’m angry is like bringing a birthday cake into an ape sanctuary. You’re just asking to get your nose and genitals bitten off.” -Amy Poehler, Yes Please
This winter I listened to Amy’s book Yes, Please during my hours of commuting to and from work. Her humor and honesty brought me smiles and laughter through treacherous driving situations.
One day at school it had snowed five inches by two o’clock. Everyone was wondering when we would be released from school early.
It didn’t happen.
There is a mountain I traverse on the way home, and a car in front of me kept a steady pace of 15 mph. Literally as fast as I could go before starting to slide, so that was fine. Amy’s voice filled my little car with hilarity as she shared her stories of fame and family.
Then, a fully loaded logging truck loomed in my rear view mirror, tailgating me up and down the icy slope. As oncoming vehicles approached me, I had flashbacks of my previous head-on collisions. I saw vehicles off the road in the ditch. There was no way to stop and see if the people were OK without causing an accident myself. It was a journey home full of stress, but any Mainah will tell you that my experience was common and expected for driving during a Maine winter.
Prone to anxiety anyway, I’ve learned some tricks for how to reduce anxious feelings during unavoidable, stressful situations. Here is one of the methods I use in the moment to deal with intense emotions today…and it doesn’t involve biting off noses (or genitals).
My go to essential oil for stress. It’s packaged in a roller ball container to apply to your skin, typically your neck, shoulders and temples. I use it every day. It has helped me manage: commuting two hours a day through western Maine, headaches, fatigue, students bouncing off the walls, after school meetings, and general feelings of just not wanting to get out of bed in the morning. It has become a crutch in my life for stressful moments.
When applied to skin it feels cool and tingly after a few minutes. This oil blend (of Wintergreen, Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil, and Rosemary) has a minty fragrance which wakes me up by stimulating the senses.
If you want to purchase Past Tense, are interested in learning more about the uses of essential oils in your daily life, or want to earn free products and supplement your income, email me at: meredith@mytallmainelife.com.
- This blog is not authored by dōTERRA, or any of its affiliated companies, and the author bears all responsibility for the content.
- These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
