Let me begin by taking a moment to thank so many regular and new readers for reaching out via social media to wish me a Happy re-Birthday. As I've said many times, I really write my narcissistic narrative as a fun coping mechanism for my own pleasure, but I'm touched and delighted that my thoughts resonated (Rosen Nate-d) with so many of you. I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond.
Now let's turn to the topic du jour: Stress is a fairly popular word these days, though that is a rather dubious distinction. IMHO: Too many things get labeled as stressful. Don't get me wrong. Any member of the Cancer Club has a lot to be concerned about. Or anyone else dealing with health, financial, family or career challenges, also has a lot weighing heavily on their minds. But too often, at least for me, I hear people lamenting some manageable passing situation in their life and claiming that it is totally stressing them out.
This traffic is so slow. Why is it taking them so long to get us a table, or take our order, or bring our food? What am I going to serve for this dinner party? The baby is 18-months old and they're not saying any words yet. Are the Vikings EVER going to win a Super Bowl?!?! To me, in the universe of life events, these are delays or inconveniences, but they don't really meet the parameters of psychological and mental discomfort. Sure, to that person at that time they are worrisome, but do they really qualify as stress?
People ask me, does having cancer stress you out? (another worn out phrase) I'm not so mellow that it doesn't bother me at times, and things were a lot more uncertain in the beginning than they are now (7 years later), but does it have an overall effect on my body and my emotions? Perhaps my stresshold is different from others; we all see life through our own unique lens. I have encountered my share of major life challenges over the past 6+ decades (no more or no less than anyone else), so maybe I'm just desensitized to stress, or maybe I'm holding out for the real bad stuff to then be stressed about it.
Whatever the explanation, I'm not as concerned about life things happening to me as much as to my loved ones. I'm going to hold my stress cards tight and only play them, if at all, when the going is really tough. And even then, I'm hoping I'll be able to direct my anxiety energy toward solving the problem or staying calm, and not worry-washing the vexatious things in life that suck but are bearable.
