Stress

Stress: (/strɛs/), noun. - importance attached to a thing; physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension.

Stress is interesting.  We all deal with it in our own ways.  As much as we say we dislike it, I find it interesting how often we actively search it out.  We do.  We might think we don't, but we do.  Look at your own life closely, think about the last time you were encumbered by little to no stress.  What happened?  Certainly there are a multitude of factors that are inherit in our lives that bring about a crushing amount of stress that no one can get away from.  These vary from people to people.  But I'm talking about those few, fleeting times in your life when you have very little on your plate and then all of sudden you realize you do.  It happens.  And I think, unconsciously, we do it on purpose.  I'm not scholar in the field, I have no medical experience, all I have is my own life and the observations of the people around me.  I dare say, when we are at times of little to no stress, we seek out things to keep a certain amount of stress in our lives.

This summer, for me, has been one of the least stressful in years.  That is not to say it is devoid of stress, but compared to the school year I just completed, last year's summer, and the school year prior to that, this last month has been a needed break.  I have been able to relax, I have started eating better, began a workout program, and just had time to unwind.  The problem is, I get bored.  With no outside forces pushing me along I tend to feel like a sailboat in the doldrums...hanging out, just waiting for a breeze.  So, I go looking for one.  The problem is, when I find a breeze that is just enough for the time, it tends to gain strength before it subsides.  I rather like that analogy. <insert shameless pat on the back>  What's the point of this particular ramble?

I think we all are searching for that healthy amount of stress that pushes us along without pushing us down.  When that force that pushes us along, pushes us down, it is then we have the hardest time getting back up.


"Well, our invention exchange this week is just that..."