Dr. Rippe's Blog

Vacation time is not far off. And I'm ready for it to arrive. Aren't you? So far 2008 has been stressful in ways that are out of our control. Gas prices have been soaring at the pump, and the prices of food staples like bread and eggs have been climbing steadily at the supermarket checkout. Job security seems a bit threatened in many sectors of the economy. A nice vacation promises an opportunity to get away from it all for a week or two. And that's something we can control.

Vacations can provide a change of pace and a chance to relax and have fun. Or they can be hectic and stressful, so crammed with activities and travel that you return home needing a vacation from your vacation. A few simple guidelines can help avoid this outcome.

• Build time for relaxation into your schedule. Even if you are taking the "trip of a lifetime," pace sightseeing and activities so that you have time to enjoy each and time to just relax and soak in the atmosphere.
• Involve every family member in the planning. Discuss what each person would like to do and cooperatively work out a plan that has something for everyone. Compromise will be required, so everyone should agree on that before planning begins. If children are old enough, each one takes responsibility for researching and organizing the activity he or she proposed.
• Fit your vacation to your budget. Not vice versa. Worrying that the fun is costing more than you can afford can wreck relaxation. Working the next ten months (or more) to get out of vacation debt is worse. Is this the year to rent a cabin on the lake at the state park rather than a suite of cabins on the big family cruise ship?

The Rippe family, by the way, is taking its own advice. We're going to our favorite spot in the mountains. We'll hike in the woods and fish in the river. We'll shop for just-picked vegetables at the local farmers' markets for delicious meals we make together. The evenings will feature fierce competition at Scrabble and board games. And every afternoon at four we'll go swimming at the community pool, just up the road--so say the girls. Our week in the woods is a vacation from stress, but more important it refreshes us as a family.

Most people I know really enjoy spring. After the cold and storms of winter, the color of the first crocuses and daffodils never fails to raise my spirits. Soon, I know, it will be time to dig in the dirt again, getting the garden in shape for another growing season. My wife and I love the time we spend outdoors gardening and landscaping. This weekend I might set out a few seedings that I know by early summer will be a burst of color. Soon I anticipate the bloom of all the flowering and fruiting trees.

Gardening or just getting out and enjoying nature is not just good for your spirits, it's good for your health. Every year when the peach trees bloom, I think of Frank, a former patient. He first came to me at age 78 for a cardiac consultation, referred after two severe heart attacks. As a consequence, his heart didn't pump very efficiently and he had severe heart failure. But he wanted to do all he could to have the best, most active life possible. In particular, he wanted to be able to continue to work his twenty-acre peach orchard. Even with an optimal medical regimen and support, Frank had only about a ten percent chance of living for five years because of the severe damage to his heart. But he and his supportive family and I worked together to give him the best medical care. And Frank stayed engaged in his orchard and sharing its beauty and fruit with the community. Ten years later he died peacefully, surrounded by family.

Frank, to me, personifies the power of a positive outlook. You don't have to have any health problems to take advantage of this insight. In my years of practice, I have found that gardeners, like orchardists, are clear-eyed optimists. They know the toll that nature can take on the garden, but they also know the joy of new life and harvest. Gardening is also great stress relief. There's nothing like a little weed pulling to relieve frustrations. Research has confirmed that gardeners tend to have less stress and a higher sense of well-being.  Whether you garden in your own yard or in containers (indoors or out), you might want to give growing things a try.

With gas prices stuck over three dollars a gallon and a big question mark hovering over the nation's economy, lots of us are looking for ways to relax and have fun that go easy on the family budget. Our family loves the movies, but six tickets put a hole in the wallet before we even reach the popcorn. So I've collected some fun ideas from family and friends that won't break the piggybank. And let me hear yours.

• Taking a picnic to a nearby state park or national forest. Most parks are free and have enjoyable hiking trails. A picnic can be simple sandwiches or an al fresco feast.
• Dinner and a movie. Invite friends and neighbors to bring a dish for potluck. Show the DVD of a classic movie or rent the latest release.
• Board game gala. Set up Monopoly, Clue, Risk --any of your favorites--invite friends to share dessert and hot competition. Kids are welcome, too. They get to set up their favorite games and compete in the junior division.
• Backyard Summer Games. Badminton or croquet, anyone? Host a potluck cookout. Invite friends to bring their favorite food and favorite game.
• Take me out to the ball game. In spring and summer, youth and community leagues are in full swing. The family can watch baseball, softball, soccer  and more for free or a nominal charge.