Logan, Utah (PRWEB) September 22, 2008
The “Dinner Talk People” at Epicworld Web site have released a new digital stress relief manual in honor of Family Day. With illustrated epic stories in easy dinner talk style, the digital manual, Escape to Epic World, by C.A. Davidson, offers a 5 step process or journey of discovery. Daily family meals are the first step in stress relief for parents and in preparing their children for successful adulthood.
According to this manual, stress management is not a single activity– it is a process, a way of life. In Escape to Epic World, this process is organized into five steps.
Step 1. “Family Gathering.” Family meals are the first step toward the “happy ending” all parents want for their families. For many, the back-to-school season is a convenient time to gather the family and loved ones as a support group, and begin enjoying daily dinner talk together.
Studies by The Center for Addictions and Substance Abuse show that children who have daily family meals 1)abuse drugs less 2) eat more nutritious meals 3) do better in school. Those with the family meal habit are discovering an additional benefit of stress relief.
Step 2. “Prepare Every Needful Thing.” Stress for children often comes from the unknown and unexpected. Preparing ahead of time for potential stressors and difficult circumstances empowers them to cope more effectively and find peace of mind.
Step 3. “Landmarks.” For parents who would like their children to read good books, this section provides discussion topics from classic literature. In his epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien speaks of having “eyes that know what to look for.” This step gives young people increased understanding of epic literature and their own character development.
Step 4. “Epic Quest.” Managing the day-to-day routine with a measured pace, prioritizing the important activities, and simplifying “busy-ness” can reduce stress. Finding an expanded perspective reduces stress for children and helps parents avoid burn-out.
Step 5. “Return Home Triumphant.” In this section, parents find ways to help their children “discover the epic hero within.” William James said, “The greatest use of our life is to spend it on something that outlasts it.” Children with a sense of purpose do not merely survive the teenage years– they thrive.
Epicworld has also established a new web page with stress relief tips. The site and book are not clinical or professional in nature. The site offers time and stress management tips and other resources. The book is a collection of epic stories which provide a “retreat” from the stresses of life, giving strength and encouragement at the same time.
The book points out that since we cannot totally remove stress from our lives, what we need is a place of privacy or safety, a refuge, or a retreat. A retreat does not mean defeat, but rather a temporary oasis, where one can be refreshed and strengthened. The author calls this retreat “Epic World”, or the world of epic stories– a realm of beautiful nature and music, epic heroes, inspiration, learning, and adventure.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines “epic” as “otherwise called heroic. . . which narrates a story. . . in an elevated style. . . usually the achievements of some distinguished hero, and intended to form the morals and affect the mind with the love of virtue. The end [ purpose] is to improve morals, and inspire a love of virtue, bravery and illustrious actions.”
Examples of epic stories include J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost, and C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. Excellent examples of epic literature are also found in the scriptures.
“Epic literature can give us a reservoir of strength to draw on when needed, ” Davidson writes. “Then in times of challenge, we discover increased capacity to manage the stress in our lives.”