Stressed

I am not surprised that so many people have high blood pressure and other complications due to stress. Being stressed out sucks. It is a life sucking miserable monster. I use to think that I was pretty good at managing my stress and being able to keep my cool, but I started a new job a couple months back and things went backwards and people got laid off, and a whole mess. I still have my job but constantly wondering if today is the day that I no longer have a job is stressful.

Fortunately I have started doing things or trying to do things that takes some of that stress off of me. Running/exercising has been good. It helps clear the mind and take the mind off of the whole situation. Trying to help and serve people has been helpful as well. When you see the struggles that people are going through, your problems and stresses don't seem as big of a deal. Playing with my kids. Getting up and going outside or running in circles around the house has been a great way to laugh. Kids rarely realize the dangers and problems that their parents might be facing. Hearing them laugh and giggle helps life seem a lot more simple.

The hardest thing to do is to leave the stress where the stress belongs. That sounds crazy I know, but if you have stress at work, leave it at work. Or stress at school, or even at home, try and leave it there. I try to do that and its not so easy. Sadly, because I can't leave it behind, it comes out directed towards people that shouldn't have to deal with that. Stress is part of life, managing it, should be as well.

Food

Have you ever noticed the joy people get out of food? Next time you are on a busy college campus or high school, sit down by the vending machines and watch how people react. You aren't going to see some one freak out and jump for joy, or scream out of excitement over the cupcakes they got. Look for that person who comes up the machine and looks the whole thing up and down and then reaches into their pocket and pulls out all of their change and counts it once, twice, and maybe a third time just to make sure they have enough. They may stand there looking for a while, or they may be standing back a few feet letting others go first as they try to make sure that with their 4 quarters all of their taste buds will be satisfied. Maybe you have had this experience of viewing someone look it over a couple of times, not of disinterest, but rather in making sure they are making the right choice with their sixty-five cents or dollar. Or maybe its been you with money a little tight, or you have had a rough some what long never ending day and you don't have any change on you.

Finally out of going over all of the choices that their few coins could buy they step up and drop the coins in, look once, and then again to make sure they have the right code, punch it in and see their treats drop. Like I said, they won't jump for joy or squeal with excitement, but carefully remove it from the flap door and find themselves a seat somewhere close and sit down and take a few seconds to enjoy it. It's not that the cupcakes or donuts or chips they just bought made all their problems and worries go away but instead it takes them back to a time when there was a little less stress, a little less worry in their life. For a few seconds they find some peace in life.

It's crazy how things, little things like the smell of a doughnut or what have you can take us back to a better time in our life. Its no wonder why people stress eat so much. They remember that one time they went with their mom and dad to a place and shared food and drinks and had fun and laughed, and they try to recreate that with what they have, or what is easiest, which most of the time is food. So, next time you see that guy or gal who might be a little over weight, or out shape, or just some one who is trying to maybe recreate that moment, sit back and enjoy seeing some one finding some peace and joy for a few brief seconds before life takes them this way and that way again.