Appreciation and dealing with stress

As we get older, we tend to gain a deeper appreciation for things we once took for granted. For example, I spent too much time at summer camp counting down the days until I could go home. Throughout my boarding school experience, I couldn't possibly imagine being more stressed, yet I spent at least 2 hours every day playing tennis. I hated waking up at 5:15 every weekday morning for crew practice in college, falling asleep at red lights on the way home and complaining about balancing school and sports.

Looking back, I'd give just about anything to spend a month every summer riding horses, shooting .22s and jumping off tire swings into ice cold water. If I could finish each afternoon sweating for a few hours on a tennis court in the Texas heat instead of in an office staring at a computer screen, I would be truly happy. If I had to go to sleep a few hours early in order to wake up before the sun and still be functional, but the tradeoff was those magical days when a boat is truly in synch, you would not hear me bellyaching.

I try to remind myself of this when I find myself stressed out or overwhelmed. If I can put things in perspective - am I really going to think about this week's crisis in 3 years, 5 years - it becomes much easier to prioritize, deal with the situation at hand, and move on. What seems insurmountable today will in fact be forgotten within a matter of days or weeks.

Instead of becoming stressed or overwhelmed by challenges, look at them as opportunities for personal growth and force yourself to take a step back and realize how minuscule they are in the grand scheme of things. Remember that at some point you will look back and feel nostalgia for this "simpler time." We never know what the future holds, but we can live in the present, appreciate what we have and live a richer life.