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[W154]We Stay In Touch

by Susan Dunn, Personal And Professional Development Coach, Sus

Staying in touch … we say it so lightly, yet it’s an important concept for our wellness. Staying in touch with others, staying in touch with ourselves, and staying in actual physical touch with our lives are all important.
One of the ways to reach relaxation and give ourselves some relief from daily stress is to touch someone or something. It stills our brain which is always thinking, and allows us to go somewhere else for a change.
Our “self-talk" can be a great source of stress, and one we can change and eliminate. It’s not just the things that are going on in our world that stress us, but how we look at it, which in turn becomes what we “say" to ourselves about it.
We may say, “This is awful," or “I’m an idiot," or “I’ll never get through this." These are not helpful statements, and in fact add to our stress. But our brain keeps generating these things until we learn to manage what goes on in there better. This may be the origin of the phrase, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop." When our “minds" aren’t occupied we can generate thoughts that are upsetting to us. I have also heard this quoted as “Idle hands are the devil’s tools." So why not keep those hands and that mind occupied so it doesn’t “go there". Anger doesn’t help, worry doesn’t help, pessimism and ruminating don’t help.
Whether we use the word “brain" or “mind" or a part of the brain (left), you’re probably familiar with that voice in your head … it usually comes up when you need it the least, and it is rarely helpful.
The best way to deal with stress is to remove the sources of it. Then develop your Emotional Intelligence.
Here are ways some people use to give themselves some relief from the stress for a while.
KNITTING
Knitting is having a comeback. If you’re old enough to remember Rosie Grier (football player), you’ll remember that he at one time took up knitting, and how surprised everyone was. So if you’re a guy and would like to give it a try, you’re in good company.
I’ve also known doctors who do needlepoint, and many others who enjoy crafts of this sort. You have to think just enough to knit to quiet the brain, and then your hands are busy. I used it a lot to handle tension when I was in college. More people are taking it up all the time.
CHI GONG
No one knows for sure when the practice of Chi Gong (pronounced “chee gung") began, but it may have been 4-5,000 years ago. It gave birth to Tai Chi, the earliest martial art, which led to the more aggressive martial arts of karate and judo.
Spelled various ways, including Qi Gong, the “Qi" means “energy" and the “gong" means “work" or “practice." It combines discipline of mind and body, regulating the body through posture, regulating the mind through relaxation and concentration, regulating the breath through self-massage and movement of the limbs.

It’s based on external movement combined with internal quiet and practice in control of the mind.

I must confess not to having practiced it myself, but it sounds like what it’s controlling is that internal “chatter" that goes on, and the emotions that come along with it, and I hear clients speaking highly of it.

SIMPLE DAILY CHORES

Someone told me the other day how beneficial it was to her to do the dishes by hand because it also involved warmth on her hands, and water. Gardening, which keeps the chattering still and involves the hands, is another way.

It may even work to keep the feet busy, such as bicycle riding, or an exercise bike. Of course any kind of exercise is beneficial because of the endorphins it raises, which may apply to all these things.

One client of mine relies on dancing when she’s stressed. She pictures the way a child moves – all arms and legs, motions and expression – and she finds this a great relief, particularly combined with music, which is an extra help in stilling the chattering brain and calming the muscles.

TOUCHING WITH THE HAND

Research has proven that a massage benefits the one who gives it as much as it does the one receives it. Interesting isn’t it?

When we touch our lovers, hug our friends, rock our babies, and pull our children into our laps to read them a story, we are giving the healing of touch.

ANIMAL COMPANIONS

When Amantha is stressed, she tells me she lies down on the floor and pets her dog. She figures the lying down on the floor gets her out of the frame of reference of her daily life … as it would for most of us.

Did you know that just being in the room with a dog lowers the blood pressure of ailing seniors, healthy college students, and a child reading. There’s a connection there you’re aware of if you have an animal companion. They’re a comfort to us, and hopefully we are to them as well, because they give us a lot.

In fact dogs and other animals are now being used for therapy of different types. There’s an Animal Volunteer Companion program where you can take your dog, cat, bird, or hamster to a nursing home, shelter, prison or other institution to bring all the things that animals bring to those who are no longer able to be with animals on a daily basis.

Taking your dog for a walk brings great stress relief and also the added factor that it can be a social experience. A dog is an instant topic of conversation and we feel at ease approaching someone with their dog to have a chat. Conversation flows freely. You’re also outdoors where things look different. Social isolation is a form of stress that can be remedied in this way.

Whether it’s painting with your child, doing needlepoint while you watch TV, going out to the barn to do a little carpentry, planting broccoli, or giving your partner a massage, use those hands in quieting, repetitive tasks and watch the stress levels go down! Touch your world. It will keep you grounded.

Just because you have deposited your money in the bank does not mean it is completely safe. There have been innumerable instances of money in the bank account of the individual being handed over to the state or the federal government because the same had become . It is imperative to safeguard one's money to ensure that it does not become unclaimed money.

Escheat laws shall apply to your account if two conditions are fulfilled.
One- the institution must be unable to contact you at the contact information placed on record in the file created by the institution. If you can be contacted, the does not become unclaimed money.
Two- the account must have been idle for at least three years. Three years of inactivity compels the institution to hand over the money to the government.

If your inheritance becomes , you cannot enjoy the same as it would then be in the possession of the government. Same is the case with bank accounts, stocks, safety deposit boxes and other such assets. Your money being operated by strangers simply because it has become unclaimed money! Shocking!

Inculcating certain habits and rules as far as your finances are concerned should be sufficient to ensure that your money does not end up with the government in the form of .

If you know where and how your money can become unclaimed money, you would have won half the battle. Money becomes unclaimed money only when the account remains idle for more than three years. The account remains idle because the account holder is no longer aware of its existence. Maintaining proper records can ensure this problem does not arise. Keep track of all savings and checking accounts that you have opened for yourself or your kids, all investment accounts, all insurance policies, all employers who may still owe you money, all pension accounts, all retirement accounts, all stocks purchased, all utility deposits and escrow accounts.

To ensure that your efforts do not waste in the event of your sudden demise, provide a copy of the list to your executor, spouse and/ or heir. This will ensure that your property does not become unclaimed property simply because the information related to all your accounts was not in possession of your survivors.

Money becomes when the account remains idle for three years AND the account holder is untraceable. Ensure that you are never untraceable by informing the institutions and organizations that are holding money on your behalf or that owe you money. Copy the format given below, fill in the relevant information and you will have the letter that you ought to send after change in contact address.

((INSERT Date))

((INSERT Company Name))
((INSERT Department You Are Contacting i.e. Customer Service))
((INSERT Company Address))
((INSERT Company City, State & Zip))

RE: Records and Information for Account # ((Insert Account Number))

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is ((INSERT Your Name Here)). I am the owner of the above referenced account.

I would like to verify the contact information on my account is correct and up to date. Please respond via letter stating the information is accurate on your records.

My current address is ((INSERT Your Current Address Here)).
My current contact phone numbers are as follows:

Home: ((INSERT HOME PHONE HERE))
Cell: ((INSERT CELL PHONE HERE))
Work: ((INSERT WORK PHONE HERE))

In case of my death I would like to ensure you have noted the money, interest and ownership of this account is transferred to ((INSERT Name of Heir)) my ((Insert Relationship to Heir, i.e. Wife or Next of Kin or Daughter, etc.)).

The contact information for ((INSERT Name of Heir)) is as follows:

Address: ((INSERT Heir's Address))
Phone: ((INSERT Heir's Phone Number))
Alternate Phone: ((INSERT Heir's Alternate Phone Number))

Please let me know if you require any additional information on this account.

Sincerely,

((SIGN YOUR NAME HERE))

((TYPE YOUR NAME HERE))

Make it a point to send this letter after you change your address, telephone number or when you change your heir.

If you do not want your to end up with the government as unclaimed money, never violate any of the four rules given above.

If you want to check if you or your family members are owed unclaimed money, then simply conduct a free search in the unclaimed money database and allay your fears.

The quick search will clearly state whether unclaimed money is owed to you, your family members or your friends or not.

The website does not stop at merely informing you that you are . It provides information on how to go about claiming the same.

After you have made the claim, wait for a maximum of 16 weeks. The check should be received by you within 2-16 weeks.

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Both Susan Dunn, Personal And Professional Development Coach & Nicole Anderson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Susan Dunn, Personal And Professional Development Coach has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management. ©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . I offer coaching, distance learning courses, and ebooks around emotional intelligence for your continued personal and professional development. For free ezine, mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc. I train and. Susan Dunn, Personal And Professional Development Coach's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.

Nicole Anderson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Make Money Online, Personal Finance and Stress Management. Nicole Anderson offers detailed information about the problem at www.cashunclaimed.com. The database of includes information from. Nicole Anderson's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.