Common Sense Says...

The things that ground:

reading novels, novellas, short stories, poetry

chopping vegetables, beating eggs, stirring sauces (using the hands)

drinking wine with a loved one

jogging

yoga

pranayama

meditation

petting a pet (it is called a pet, after all)

playing guitar (using the hands)

singing (just not at an audition) folk, jazz, standards

listening to the music that sends the heart soaring

drawing, painting (using the hands)

laughing

sipping tea, sipping coffee

watching rainfall (if that's the only thing you're doing)

entertaining a child

long walks (preferably over bridges or at the botanical gardens, and with a loved one)

dinner parties

journaling

making someone feel better

acting on stage

If these are the things that make me happy, I should strive to do these more often. Logic says.

In light of this, the list of things which create anxiety is as follows:

Facebook

The Internet, including email

waitressing

meeting new people pre-determined by me to intimidate

auditioning

listening to stories of tragedy or disaster

commuting

politics

difference of opinion which leads to taking things personally

refusing to smile

refusing to sleep

dwelling on the future

eating too much sugar

reading gossip magazines

overactive imagination (imagining horror-show-type or soap-opera-type scenarios)

rushing from place to place (ill-and-under-preparation)

spending too much money on something

Some of these things are necessary, I know. And some of them create backbone. But, looking at the lists, I don't know why I would choose Facebook over a good book, or choose "worry" over meditation and sleep.

Can easily sub a few here and there.

And when that happens, as it has the last couple days, I realize in a flash what I've been missing.

All part of my master plan to one day have a dog.