Oops! Excuse my accidental racism

 Stress: More Fun than a Colonoscopy!

No one ever said Stress was fun!

Ever notice it can sneak up on you looking like “I’m handling it just fine”… while your body is waving a white flag?

I used to think I handled stress pretty well. Stiff upper lip. Strong faith. Keep moving.

Then my colon filed a complaint.

People say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

I would like to suggest what doesn’t kill you may instead give you indigestion, high blood pressure, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

According to stress charts, if you are brave enough to add these numbers up…the death of a spouse scores 100 points. Marriage adds 50 more. (100pts for me!) Moving adds 20 more each move. Job changes and lets not even count bad jobs! Raising 4 children. I think I am over my limit!

Raising Twins boys probably deserves its own category.

I figure so far I have had enough stress points to pick out my casket.

Divorce is a stressor I have not experienced but I think I am ok on that one since I told my hubby I do not believe in it…. but killing? Hmm.

Then came doctor visits, tests, wrong prescriptions, health scares, and—just when I thought I was managing life—life informed me I was not managing life.

Stress will make a fool out of you.

It will have you praying for patience while eating potato chips in the pantry.

It will have you claiming great faith while googling symptoms at 2 a.m.

It will make you say, “I’m fine,” while one eye twitches.

What helps?

Faith.

Humor.

Rest.

And occasionally telling people “No.”

Medical tests are the worst. I was severely stressed over taking my stress test!

Stress is more fun than Colonoscopies…nothing fun about days of prep.

Why can’t we be like Star Trek where Bones hooks me up to a computer and spits out the problem…just like my car!

My innards became so tight up in knots from stressful living… it became literal…a week in the hospital, near death experience and a surgery to untangle the guts made it very clear:

Stress will humble you.

Maybe the answer to stress isn’t pretending we can carry everything.

Maybe it’s laying some things down.

Pray more. Laugh more. Rest more. Double-check your prescriptions. Best cure is Porch sitting and sweet tea!

But for heaven’s sake, manage your stress before you look death in the eye!

What helps you handle stress—faith, humor, walking, prayer, fried chicken? 😄

myhometowncolumn/tracy williams