Others can help me alleviate stress by giving me space to let it blow over, by helping me to get out of a stressful situation, or by letting me be in control of the things that matter. Laughing (but not laughing at me; laughing at the ridiculousness of the circumstances) helps too. Calmly talking things out later is also a useful strategy. We can review what happened as a precedent for future situations and to resolve other problems before they start. My parents say that they deliberately give me some “achievable challenges to deal with”, so I “get some practice with coping strategies”. These challenges can be anything from making me hike or cycle long distances, to leaving it up to me to set my own priorities for a busy weekend then making me recognize and deal with the consequences of my choices.
All of this may sound bad, but it really is just normal and realistic. I know I can bring many good attributes to the group which will be traveling to Mexico. I have experienced traveling as one of a group before, when I toured China last year as a member of the MSU Cello Ensemble. I have a sense of humor and I am adventurous. I have an enthusiastic attitude to new things and have had quite a lot of experience traveling to different countries. Mom approves of my “willingness to try new foods and new ways of doing things” and recalls me eating new things in China, and was proud that showed “the stamina to be sight-seeing all day and then up on stage each night playing cello in front of a large Chinese audience”.
I interpret the world in a different and unique way. I also have an interest in other cultures and music, and want to learn more about the Tarahumara people. I agree with my parents that “this trip will be a fantastic opportunity to increase life experience”, and I am a little nervous but excited to go.
Stress is a fact of life. Everyone encounters it. People just need to realize what it is and deal with it as effectively as they can in order to minimize its negative impacts. It is particularly important to know stress in a group situation, such as our trip to Mexico because stress can quickly pass from one person to another and build up to be much bigger than it needs to be. It is important to know when you or somebody else is stressed and to change things quickly so that it doesn't get magnified. People need to be tolerant of other people's stresses, so they in turn will show tolerance when circumstances are vice versa. I'm sure we're all up to the challenge.
Sources
stress. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stress
Parents
