Stress Should Be Considered A Four Letter Word

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I'm pacing outside the door to the room where I will proctor yet another End of Grade Test, anxious before the process even began, when I noticed the bulletin board outside the classroom. The theme was "our internal speech", i.e. how to turn around a negative perspective. For example, one item on the board said, "I hate this subject"...and beneath it, the corrected version was, "What am I missing that makes this subject anxious for me?" As I read through the blurbs on the board meant for elementary aged eyes, I began to internally apply them to my forty-six year old viewpoint.

How many times do we, as adults, get angry or frustrated with something and let those feelings cloud what's really going on inside? I know for me, it is far too frequent, but I am aware of, and actively working to change that. Trust me, it's a S-L-O-W process (...what's that dumb adage about  teaching an old dog new tricks?)! Today during our school's EOG process, I found myself feeling more and more stressed out by various events that were taking place. As those feelings of irritation and anxiety reached a crest, I was able to stand guard in a room filled with easy-going students having lunch after a very long morning. Their happy chatter, although a bit on the noisy side, began to drain away my tension. Students who knew me, saw me, wanted hugs. Students who didn't, asked who I was an engaged me in fun conversation. It was a room filled with warmth, smiles, and interesting food items packed in colorful lunch boxes, and the entire scene just flat out made me happy. Plus, at least five adults came by to ask me if I'd had a chance to eat, fussing over me the same way they might with the kids. It was quite lovely.

I know that part of my problem is when I think something is "wrong", I am very adamant about pointing it out and/or attempting to argue my point. I have yet to fully embrace the old military concept of S.U.A.C. (...which stands for "shut up and color"). Not everything has to be an argument, even when you're right (...and let's face it, most of the time, I am...*snorts*). One day, hopefully before I'm too old to apply it, I will embrace the times I need to just S.U.A.C. and discern them from those times where fighting is the proper path. Until then, having the children all around me serves as a really good buffer and frequently relieves most of my stress.