Summary: Working in the garden and outdoors has long been considered a great “stress reliever”, doing something different than our ordinary task takes our mind off the pressures of life, but powered tools make the “relaxing” so much easier.
A hobby – some activity completely foreign to their daily tasks – has long been a recommended stress relief “treatment” for hard-working individuals The speedy, break-neck pace at which millions of American work is shown in the heavy mortality from heart disease alone. Medicine continues to find many disorders directly traceable to stress. The high tension of modern life takes a toll. Look around among your friends and acquaintances. How often they suddenly and unexpectedly have their life fall apart. Modern living, with a thousand new things beating a perpetual tattoo upon our attentions, has created physical and mental situations that are alarming.
The Good Old Days
Back in the good old days, people didn’t worry so much as they do now. Imagine, for instance, having no income taxes (yes there was a time) and no credit card payments, and no installment payments to meet! A social evening once or twice a month was a rare occasion. Radio, and television, plus an always connected and on the go lifestyle just didn’t exist in the old days. Life wears down our energies and high-pressure comes at us non-stop. There’s little time any more for restful relaxation. The job of making a living, and keeping up with our committments, or with the kids extra activities, is driving thousands to look at medication for relief.
The physician today must dispense medicines and prescriptions; but he must also be an expert on dozens of other things. He knows that the complexity of modern living is responsible for most of our ailments. He knows that relaxation and a change of pace are necessary to keep us in well-balanced physical and mental health. And in these days when most of us are working harder than ever to produce enough both for defense of the free world and the support of our home economy, we can think of no better way to relax than working in the yard.
Gardening Has Few Equals
As a hobby, gardening has few equals. There are so many things to recommend it: physical exercise, plenty of fresh air, pride of accomplishment, a feeling of Kinship with the Creator, lots of beautiful flowers and/or plenty of fresh vegetables. But gardening with hand tools alone can become Hard Work. That has led to the development of the many fine power gardening tools available in today. With such laborsaving equipment, gardening can be a real pleasure – and good healthful relaxation as well.
How often we’ve seen Dad, or a neighbor, riding on the riding lawn mower – maybe only a small 40 by 50 foot lawn at that! We may have chuckled at the sight, but did we miss the real picture? He was enjoying himself, not worrying about the past day’s troubles, or what might happen tomorrow. Such relaxation and “change of pace” might easily add years to his life.
We all know about power lawn mowers – there are millions in use. But not everyone knows yet about the many other power garden tools available. We are sure that many more millions of people will be enjoying their gardening if they take a few minutes out to really think about or consider the matter. There are many manufacturers of good power garden tools, all trying to offer you the best product they can to help you enjoy gardening.
May we suggest that you see your local garden supply dealer, home improvement center and let them show you some of this modern equipment – mowers, weed eaters, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers. Tell them you want to put some FUN in gardening; insist that they let you operate it – and you be the judge. We believe you will be surprised at how much more you will enjoy your garden and caring for your lawn, landscape and garden with the right power garden tools to get the job done easier.
by H Ober
