JULY/AUGUST 2001

By Kevin Meininger
CureHodgkins.com Writer

Did you ever have one of those mornings where you accidentally hit the alarm-off button instead of the snooze button? And then you're rushing to get into the shower so you can skip breakfast and hopefully make it to work on time (did you forget to put on the deodorant?)... But then as you zip onto the freeway, you realize what a huge effect fifteen minutes can have on the speed of rush-hour traffic. Needless to say, you get to work late, interrupt your boss's morning meeting, and get flashed a very disapproving glare that has "you can kiss that raise goodbye!" written all over it.

Of course we have all had this experience. Where I come from, we call it a "Monday". But sometimes I get problems dumped on me in the middle of the week too, and believe it or not: they're not always my fault. We live in an inherently stressful society nowadays... what with all the newfangled techno-gadgetry ringing and beeping and vibrating to let us know constantly that we're falling behind. In fact, we can never be good enough or quick enough if we benchmark ourselves against the rigid computers that make the business world tick.

That's when you have to take a step back and picture your life through a looking glass. What is your purpose in life, and does this degree of stress you've created for yourself seem appropriate in the big picture? Probably not. Take a deep breath and close your eyes for a minute. Imagine that your issue is just a tiny problem, and that you'll simply deal with it and move on. Once you've addressed the issue and put its sense of urgency back into perspective, you'll find that it's really just another annoyance you've encountered along your journey. No big deal.

One of the techniques I like to use when I'm faced with a disaster is to compare it with previous disasters I've lived through. For example, my most trying experience ever would have to be the chemotherapy treatments I underwent previously, and all the related psychological effects. Just about any problem I can pit against this event seems pale in comparison. And since I can't seem to forget about the treatments, I'm using these memories to my advantage on a disaster-by-disaster basis.

They say that people who carry stressful burdens end up shortening their lives. I believe this is probably true because stress is a barrier wall that eventually comes crumbling down if you don't learn to overcome it. As survivors, we must realize the strength we have been given to battle even the most demanding circumstances. Why do we allow everyday troubles to pester us into such disarray? Smile! Relax! Focus on the larger issues that really matter and relish in the fact that you have been given another chance at life. And above all, never lose sight of where your journey is taking you if you should happen to get knocked off course every now and again.

 

This is Kevin's third column for CureHodgkins.com. Click here to read the first edition of Survivor's Life.