Over at Robert Hruzek’s place, Middle Zone Musings, the topic of today’s groupwrite project is:
Now see, I could have stressed myself out and agonized over what picture to put up there, but what’d I do to eliminate the stress of finding one? Why, I lifted Robert’s cute little stress picture right off his site! Of course, that would be called, ahem, borrowing, wouldn’t it?
It seems like everywhere we turn nowadays, the topic of stress pops up left and right. “Ten Steps to Eliminate Stress from your Life!” screams one magazine. “Live a Stress-Free Life,” urges another. It’s no wonder that so many magazines are tackling the topic of stress: with the stock market in the pits, food and health care soaring, and the housing market basically flat–these are stressful times, indeed.
Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to experience a relatively stress-free weekend. I got in the car and drove up to my parents’ house for the weekend. I left behind the hubby and children (they were completely ok with that!) and it was my first time up at Christie Lake without them. I was able to blast my John Denver/Kenny Rogers/Lonestar music without anyone imploring me to turn it down, or worse, to turn it off.
Let me give you a glimpse of why it is so peaceful up at Christie Lake. This is the view from my parents’ kitchen window:
Peaceful, indeed.
I spent the weekend painting the decks with my Dad and sis. I had planned to winterize the jet ski and put it away for the winter after we finished up with the painting. During all of Saturday morning, I was enjoying the sun and the paining was moving along. The weather was incredible. On Saturday afternoon, I started to feel some stress. My neck was aching and my jaw was tensing up. I was trying to figure out what was causing it and then I realized what it was: I didn’t know how to winterize the jet ski and I was running out of time to figure it out. I had read the owner’s manual over and over earlier in the week, but it might as well have been written in Greek. Here’s an example of part of the winterizing process:
Prior to inserting the ignition coil to its location, apply some Molykote 111 grease (P/N413 707 000) around the seal area that touches the spark plug hole. After installation, ensure the seals seats properly with the engine top surface.
Ignition coil? Seals? And where the heck were the spark plugs located? No wonder I could feel the stress mounting that afternoon. I had texted Leaders Marine the day before and asked if I could stop in so they could walk me through the process. Sure, they said.
I borrowed my Dad’s truck and hooked up the jet ski and drove to the marine shop. My Mom came with. Along the way, we talked about a bunch of things and ironically, the subject of stress came up.
“Remember that piece of advice you gave me a long time ago,” I asked my Mom. “You told me that you used to worry and be stressed out and then you realized you were wasting a lot of time worrying.”
And then Mom finished the thought. “Yes, everything always has a way of working out, it just always does. So why get all worked up about it. I look back at all the years that I was stressed out about something or other. I didn’t have to worry so much.”
Well, Mom’s advice has stuck with me through the years and when I find myself stressed out, I have to ask myself– what is the solution? What is the worse possible thing that could happen? What can I change right now to ease the way I feel?
So much for being stressed out about the winterizing process. The mechanic from the marine shop walked me through the steps a few times until I felt confident that I could do it. Dad helped me finish the process and we put the jet ski back in the shed and put all the neighbor’s boats back in.
“I just hope I did this right,” I said to my Dad.
“Well, no use worrying about it,” he said. “We’ll find out in the spring.”
Comments
21 responses to “What I Learned from Stress”
Way to go, Karen! I admire the fact that you like to do so many things yourself instead of hiring them out to others. Hey, your mom is right, though; once it’s done, well, all you can do is let it go, you know? You’ve done all you can.
Smart woman, you’re mom. 😉
Thanks for getting this one in, Karen; you’re a peach!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Crisis… and Restoration
Sounds like you had a great weekend.
Those instructions would have stressed me out too – any kind of DIY instructions turn my brain to jelly!
Thanks for sharing – the photo too
Joanna Youngs last blog post..What I Learned From Writing Under Stress
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Hi Karen, Your parents seem like people who just take things in stride. That’s a recipe for a long, happy life. Being around folks like that usually make me realize how foolish my little stress points are.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Meet the Director of Keyword Engineering or Something like That
I totally agree with your parents’ philosophy. I’m so laid back sometimes that people get mad at me for Not stressing out. So frustrating. All I can tell them is ‘there isn’t much I can do about the situation, so why stress over it?’ Sometimes they agree and calm down and sometimes they don’t, but at least I’m not stressed.
@Robert
Well, it was either learn it myself or fork over $149 bucks every fall.
I’m cheap. 🙂
@Joanna,
Brain turning into jelly– yes! That’s exactly how I felt when I read the manual. Who writes those things anyway?
@Brad,
I have to admit, my parents are very resilient. They’ve had their ups and downs and still manage to come through it somehow.
@Sajego,
My husband has that same laid-back attitude– I’m the one who stresses out more!
This made me smile because you’re right – stress is at an all-time high throughout most of the country.
Did you see the article by Darren Hardy of the online Success Magazine? He was talking about “inoculating ourselves from the market” which meant choosing not to focus on it and instead place your energy elsewhere.
Basically Darren was echoing what your Mom was telling you which is everything (even the markets) have a way of working out.
So why worry? It’s a waste of energy. Nice job Karen. It made me smile.
Stephen Hopsons last blog post..Raw Food Journey: Let’s Clear Up Some Myths
@Stephen
We are fortunate that we won’t need our retirement money for a while. Now the kid’s college funds… yikes… but I’m directing my energy elsewhere as well– thinking up ways to earn more money!
Parents can be very wise. My own ( Scottish) Mum used to ask me “why are you worrying about the day you never saw” – roughly translated meaning it might never happen so why waste the energy worrying about it!
So I try to split my stress between things I can foresee ( really – not in my imagination) and the things over which I have control. Otherwise…let it go!
Great post .
Jackie Camerons last blog post..Presenting? Please don’t read from your slides!
I like the questions you ask yourself Karen
I like the book “don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.” One point from that book: Don’t create your own emergency. I’m often reminding myself that I don’t have to; I choose to. It helps me set priorities and relax. Well, relax a little.
Daisys last blog post..‘Tis the season to think globally, act locally, and vote!
“Everything always has a way of working out,” is such sage wisdom. I love your mom and I’ve never met her. I try to live by this as well – it’s a challenge though.
Your earlier comments in the post made me realize that all the hype about having a stress-free or peaceful life sometimes makes me stressed. It’s coming at us in so many different directions that it’s hard to not feel stressed if you’re not de-streesing or mediating on the shores of the Great Salt Lake in Utah (which smells really bad BTW).
“Everything always has a way of working out,” is such sage wisdom. I love your mom and I’ve never met her. I try to live by this as well – it’s a challenge though.
Your earlier comments in the post made me realize that all the hype about having a stress-free or peaceful life sometimes makes me stressed. It’s coming at us in so many different directions that it’s hard to not feel stressed if you’re not de-streesing or mediating on the shores of the Great Salt Lake in Utah (which smells really bad BTW).
B. Wildes last blog post..Brief Encounters with Miss Addie
Well, lucky you! I also have great views from my parents house… but they live half-way around the world and $1000 flight away…..
rickismoms last blog post..Not-Wordless (regular posts below) and Special-exposure Wednesday
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Stress: #1 “Fun-filler” for sure! Everything does have a way of working out. Gorgeous view from the kitchen!
I’ve heard say that “Worry is the misuse of imagination.”
Well, the good news– the jet ski started right up last spring!