Cees (Y Not that kind of role model Y All you need is love? (¥ Anotso happy holidays And more! Have your voice heard! Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor M opinions@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca Productivity beats positive thinking » Relaxing and stressing won't get the job done Elliot Chan Opinions Editor NM opinions @theotherpress.ca Wwe youre stressed, you relax. Although it’s good to wind down after a long day, relaxing when a job or assignment is unfinished may actually cause more long-term stress. The thin line between rewarding yourself and procrastinating is a harmful illusion we create for ourselves that may be stalling our overall progress in our professions and academics. If you have a project due next week, you'd probably wait until the last possible moment to finish it like a normal person. Because of this, the project will remain in the back of your head throughout the week, occupying a stressful part of your brain. Then, after a given day of procrastination and concerning yourself with other activities, you'd want to relax; however, to do that you'd have to consciously avoid the idea of that very project. In doing : so, you'll end up thinking of it, : hence the paradox of stress. By avoiding the work : assigned to you, you create : unnecessary stress virtually : out of thin air. If you were : to finish the work as soon : as possible, youd instantly : feel a relief incomparable to : the “relaxation” you would : have while procrastinating. : Although you'd have the : instant gratification of doing : something enjoyable, your : mind will be restless, knowing : that there is something left : unaccomplished. Anxiety and stress cannot : be tamed; they must be : conquered. You'll never be more : : ready to face your challenge : : than this moment right now, no : matter how daunting it seems. : If you have a big project, start : it now—little steps will act as : encouragement and motivation : going forward. If you applied : fora job, don’t simply sit back : and play the waiting game: : apply for another. By having : more eggs in more baskets, : your anxiety and stress will : dampen should disappointment : : arise. If you have someone you : want to ask out ona date, don't : strategize and stress over “what : if” questions; just go, ask, and : see what happens. Stress is the natural : response to the dangers of the : world. It’s our animal instinct : warning us that there are : elements out there that will kill : us. But that is not true in this : day and age, where the things : that stress us out are trivial : rather than life threatening. Yet, : we still feel that if we fail to do : something we'll be ripped apart, : eaten alive. Once we are able to : recognize that the threats are : all in our head, we can sit down, : work, or relax without the intrusion of stress. People with frequent : anxiety attacks hate the fact : that people like me belittle : their impairment, but I’m : disappointed in the way they : magnify the task at hand. : They believe that by relaxing, : avoiding the work, and sitting : back, they will be better off in : the end. That’s not true. Stress : must be eliminated like rotting : food. You clean the kitchen if it stinks wouldn't you? The same : goes with stress. Offering thanks and remembrance isn't that difficult » Someone paid for your rights and freedoms—remember that! Patrick Vaillancourt Senior Columnist t’s often easy for us to take for granted the rights and freedoms we enjoy in Canada. Many of us are quick to complain about something which, in the larger sense, is insignificant compared to the hardships people from other countries face. Some months ago, at a Royal Canadian Legion in Vancouver on karaoke night, I stepped out to get some air. It was nice to be alone with my thoughts, but an elderly gentleman who wanted to tell mea joke interrupted my quiet reflection. My initial thought : was that he was approaching : me to see if I would dispense : with some pocket change or a : cigarette, but this all changed : when I saw him go inside the : Legion. I followed him back : in and realized that the man, : along with another elderly : gentleman, was sitting at the : table right next to mine. He waved me over, and : we engaged in conversation. : He complained about the : Harper government and how : Canadian society was growing : increasingly unfair. His friend : shared the same sentiment. : Not long after this rant, both : had revealed that they were : veterans—the man I had first : met, from the British Royal : Navy, the other from the : Canadian Forces. I'd continue to provide an : ear for these veterans to vent and : soon the time would come for : me to sing my marquee karaoke : song. I stood up, shook hands : with the men and, without : : thinking, blurted out “Thank you : : for your service.” It felt unnatural : for me to say at first, and I : thought I sounded ridiculous. For these veterans, however, it was an acknowledgment. : Throughout the year, thereare : : days commemorating the service : : of military men and women in : Canada, but rarely are they ever : recognized without a uniform : or in public. For both ofthese — ; : men, battle-hardened by combat : : in the Korean War six decades : before, a simple “thank you” was : enough to get one of thema little : : teary-eyed. : uniform, but my father has. He’s : immensely proud of his time in : the military, and although he has : : never seen combat, he deserves : some recognition for his : easy or safe job. A few weeks : ago, in St. Jean and Ottawa, : we were reminded that. Even : within the safety of our own : and women still face dangers : simply for wearing the uniform : and for making a commitment : to keep us safe, strong, and free. They fight so that we don’t have : to, and there isn’t any other : scenario where a word of thanks : I’ve never worn my country’s : willingness to defend the rights : and freedoms we enjoy today. Being a soldier is not an borders, Canadian servicemen could be more worthy. So, come Remembrance Day, I know I'll be showing : my gratitude in the small : way that makes our veterans feel appreciated. They have : sacrificed so much for us, and : we owe them much more than : we could ever give them. All that is expected of us : is to do the decent thing, give : thanks, and remember. You : can do that at the one of many : Remembrance Day events across : the country. Can’t make it toa Remembrance Day event? Why : not drop by your local Legion : branch, get yourself a beer, sing : your favourite tune, and spend : a couple of minutes, as I have, : listening to these heroes. You'll learn something, even if it’s only the punchline to a joke you've ? never heard.