Damn, I had a shitload of advice to dole out but it looks like I'm late to the party. All I can say is in my experience it is okay to break down every now and then. Shit, I do it all the time. I used to bottle everything up and refuse to show any sort of (perceived) weakness. It all came to a head when my niece died and I didn't feel a single emotion, and again when my daughter was born and the same thing happened. Once I tried to undo the damage the exact opposite began to happen, and now I frequently go through a myriad of emotions for no apparent reason. They tell me that's normal, though. Apparently one day I'll actually become a real boy. I'm glad to hear that you've reached this point so far; no doubt you will show the same strength when facing the other challenges ahead.
As for stress relief: Rivers and forests do it for me; especially on a really sunny or rainy day. Just sitting on the bank, watching the light bend and shape images on the surface of the river, along with the sound of the water navigating its way over and around obstacles, always manages to calm me. If you can, I would also recommend giving yourself a day off. You can do nothing all day, or at least, something that is completely outside of your normal daily grind. Good luck and Stevie speed.
As for stress relief: Rivers and forests do it for me; especially on a really sunny or rainy day. Just sitting on the bank, watching the light bend and shape images on the surface of the river, along with the sound of the water navigating its way over and around obstacles, always manages to calm me. If you can, I would also recommend giving yourself a day off. You can do nothing all day, or at least, something that is completely outside of your normal daily grind. Good luck and Stevie speed.
