Life Feels Different

Dear Friends,

One part of choosing hope for me has required me to reduce my daily stress. It's amazing how little things can pile up and become overwhelming. I don't know about you, but I am really good at letting things bottle up before I notice I am exploding with overwhelming stress. I'm an ultimate Type A personality and can zoom through life without noticing the daily damage of my stressful mindset.

As I realized this, I noticed a change in my mindset. Part of this came from a long period of illness and hospitalization this fall. When I was discharged from the hospital, I kept trying to immediately go back to my normal, fast-paced life. Each time, I would find myself back in the hospital with continued pain and illness.

Then, I went to my parents' home to recover. They live in a very small town. There is nowhere to walk to from their house. Everything is quiet and peaceful. I was forced to slow down. Even with the stress of schoolwork, service projects, and relationships swirling around me, I was forced to take time to breathe and have respite.

When I returned to my apartment and my "normal" life, I noticed changes in myself. I used to check my email at least five times every hour during the day and felt the need to respond to emails immediately. Now, I check it every few hours and only respond to urgent needs immediately. I allow myself to think before hitting "send" and let less urgent matters rest until I have more time.

I also noticed a change in my character. I'm still a tenacious go-getter at work, but I am much more laid back in my daily life. If I don't get everything done in a day, I don't stress over things all night. If I don't get the grade I wished for or the job I hoped for, I feel peace instead of pain. I feel much more focused on the things that really matter in life than the tedious little problems each day.

I didn't want to go through this illness. I didn't want to miss out of weeks of school and work. I didn't want to be sick and miss out on life. But the changes that I have experienced are so much better for my mindset in the longterm.

I encourage you to slow down today. If something doesn't work out the way you planned, just breathe. Focus on the things that really matter, like your family, friends, and self-worth. It's okay to take time for yourself and the things and people that matter. It's okay to give yourself a break once in a while. It's okay to stop and change your mind. Then, you can experience true hope and peace.

Peacefully,
Sara