With a title like that one has to wonder if I have lost control of my ever loving mind. Well, not quite but I guess it could be coming. But the title of my post has something to do with a couple of different conversations that I have had in the last day.

The first was at our little tea party where seven ladies who did not all know each other gathered around a table for tea, food and conversation. It was indeed lovely and it reminded me of how much I have missed being able to have gatherings like this. Yes, it can be a lot of work but in the end the conversations and the connections made are priceless.

One of the things we avoided talking about were world events, political events and things that could disrupt our calm and serene tea atmosphere. One of my sweet neighbors, Wanda. shared with us that she had a group of friends who walked together in the mornings and they really enjoyed each other’s company. Sometimes, she admitted, conversations could stray into areas that were uncomfortable and so they came up with a code phrase to say. When someone says it, that conversation stops immediately and is redirected to another topic. It is a respectful way to say “I just am not ready to talk about this topic right now” without making a big deal about it. The phrase? “How do you think the rain is going to affect the rhubarb?” An innocuous question that allows everyone to reset. I love it.

Another conversation over tea with yet another friend, Pat, made the list of things to remember. As we are talking about the angst of the world and of all of the things that we are concerned about but can do absolutely nothing about she told me of something her friend told her. “Be a duck. Just let it roll like water off your head and down off your body.” I loved that too. Instead of getting all twisted up about things that we can do absolutely nothing about she has allowed herself to say to herself “I am a duck” and allow all of that angst to roll off.

There is. a time and place to discuss the bigger issues in our lives and it is good to realize that those conversations do indeed need to be had but there is also an appropriate time and place. What about you? Do you have any examples of how to redirect the topic, shed the stress and let go? I would love to read all about it in the comments so make sure you leave me one. For every comment left on the blog this month Chris and I will donate 50 cents to our Comments for a Cause — Uvalde Victims Relief Fund.