Stressful Times

(written December 29th)

I love the rain. It kind of has a way of making the world pretty and shiny again. I'm thankful for it today...it was good.

It's amazing what stress can do to a person...or maybe just me. After muddling through one of the most stressful days I've had in a long time...I have gotten sick. Fever and yuckiness everywhere. And then to add insult to injury...my cat, in an attempt to cuddle...jumped on my face and clawed me. I now have two huge scratches (ok...maybe not so huge...but definently big enough to catch your eye and make you think "ick" Do people think, "ick'?) across my lip.

And after bawling my eyes out...I mean sobbing so hard I couldn't breath...I began to feel better. The knots that were rolling around in my stomach began to roll away. The tension that had lodged in my lower back...well it began to lessen. I don't feel totally normal...but better.
I know that what is there to deal with is still there...and it won't be any easier...but somehow my spirit has let it go...and is beginning to heal.

How does this work exactly? How do I handle stress...or not handle it? And what makes one thing draw such a response over another? How much of this is within my control, and how can I handle it better?

Sometimes all of this thinking makes me sleepy....