De Stressing

I always tell people I don't do stress, I don't do anger, I don't do hate.I try not to let any negative vibes come into my life. I saw a TED talk on the positives for stress, which you can watch here. Stress can be good for you if you use it to your advantage. It's like any form of training, you push yourself, often to the realms of pain , but as long as you are not pushing beyond your limits, your body and mind can grow stronger from stress training.

We often become stressed when we lose control of situations, but I have always found fun in situations with lots of unknowns. I like solving problems, but if I get stuck, I ask for advice, and I always try to prepare for potential mishaps so that at least I have the odd thing to help me if things go wrong. The thing is , most of the time, things generally go right.

I always try and extend my circle of friends and give people respect, that way you have someone to call on if you need help. I need both of my hands and more to count the number of people whom I could ask for help from if I needed it.

A friend of mine recently told me that I don't stress like normal people, but told me some sometimes I need to just slow down because I try to do so many things at once. Maybe it's just bad planning on my part, but going back I was playing at gig and took a work colleague along, she was a quiet girl, but the following day asked me "How Do You Know So Many People?" , I didn't think I knew that many people but I obviously did compared to her. I just said I speak to people and keep in contact with them.

I'm pretty unusual in that I can speak to my neighbours face to face and know their names for four houses either side. Most people barely know their next-door neighbours, and that can actually create stress . I certainly don't have any stress there

Collect

I remember hearing the PIL song "Rise" thinking how beautiful it was , in the chorus , but the refrain"Anger is an Energy" which is the title of John Lydon's latest autobiography that I am reading and he explains how anger can be channelled positively to create good things. The book is well worth reading as Lydon is very articulate.









Anyway, what was I saying? How am I normally not stressed? I prepare for situations, and if things suddenly change, I adapt to that change. I don't get angry if a bus or train isn't on time; I  almost find it amusing when I see traffic jams full of cars with one person in them. I don't own a car and only drive when I have to.

The other night, leaving my youngest daughter's wedding late at night, I went in the wrong direction, no one stressed, it was suggested we turn around, and we did, and then we got back home at a reasonable hour. I know people who would have blown up in that situation.


So look for positives, look for things that make you laugh, don't overreach or try to do the impossible and enjoy as much as you can. That way, stress levels go down. Don't look for things that may never happen. Carry a spare tire if you drive, but don't think every time to start your car that you are going to have to use it.

OK, that's a few, that's about my generally stress-free life.