Stress returns, but we must not let it blind us

Published: Friday, October 28, 1994

Jeanene Harlick

Stress. It has returned. It surrounds us, it blinds us, we breathe it in. The euphoric days of summer are over. We now no longer foolishly look forward to the alleviation of boredom that school affords us. Instead, we look back fondly on the days of summer and wonder how we could have ever wanted to return to school. Images of grades, bills and a continuously running clock haunt our dreams and invade our thoughts. Is there no relief from the nightmare of the UCLA quarter system?

The vampire Stress, much like the infamous Lestat, cares not for the harm it imposes on its victims. With its famished fangs it latches onto our brains, there to suck from our minds the joy that life naturally pours into our veins. And living in Los Angeles does not help matters. Many L.A. natives are born with minds predisposed toward stress without it, many would feel lost and confused. So I, having been born in the Bay Area and not yet fully drained by this greedy joy-sucker, offer some humble words of advice.

First of all, we must put things in perspective. A couple of weeks ago, I, in the throes of misery, had a cherished conversation with my twin sister, who is now studying in France. As the money piled up on my father's calling card, I complained bitterly of my miserable cross-country season and the stress I was feeling to perform well. My sister patiently endured my sorrowful despair, and as our conversation came to a close, she informed me that a close friend's mother had died of cancer a few weeks ago.

Well, that shut me up. All of a sudden, my horrid performance in cross-country didn't seem that important. I was ashamed of the tears and depression I had spent over a few bad races, while my friend was in the midst of a despair much more painful than I could ever imagine. When I called later that week, our conversation put cross-country even further into perspective my friend was experiencing one of the most painful and confusing tribulations of life. I simply had no right to be worrying so much about one bad season in a sport.

In short, the stress you may be feeling about grades, sports or whatever, is inconsequential compared to the important things in life. Ten years from now you probably won't even remember some of the classes you took in college, much less what grade you received. Our society places unnecessary importance on numbers and letters, but these do not form the lasting relationships which really matter in life.

Secondly, you must remember that performance is not connected to your self-worth. You have worth simply because you exist. I believe that your existence is proof that God created you. If He created you, He must have wanted you here, no matter how well you do in school or how rich you become. You can't bring your report card, your trophies, your porches or your mansions with you to heaven. All that matters in the long run is your soul. The time you spend stressing over earthly things has no eternal importance.

Thirdly, I recommend a retreat to nature. Nature is extremely comforting in times of stress. Here in L.A., we are surrounded by buildings, concrete, cars and a multitude of people always in a rush. Although we don't realize it, it subconsciously affects our frame of mind. It is very difficult to relax in this kind of atmosphere. Our minds as well as our bodies are suffocated by the over-abundance of concrete and metal; we suffer from a dearth of greenness. When I travel outside of L.A. to regions of verdancy for example, Oregon I immediately notice the change that comes over my mind. I automatically relax. My mind is allowed to expand into the miles of unpopulated land and find peace. When I view the grandness of nature, my minuteness is emphasized, and my petty problems become micronized. A simple trip to the ocean may be sufficient to bring about this peace in you. Or if that is too difficult, I find that just looking up at the sky helps to soothe my nerves.

I offer up one final bit of advice, although it is by no means the last solution to beating stress. There are many out there. But I suggest this: open your eyes again to the little miracles of life. Even in L.A., there are many mini-miracles (say that five times fast) that confront us daily. Smiles. Take delight in the supreme joy of a baby's smile, or the generous smile of a stranger as you walk to class. Take delight in the amazing intricacies of the mind as you successfully complete a physics problem or finish that English paper. Take delight in the wonderful variety of music and its ability to take your soul to a higher plane of being. Take delight in the comforting bond of friendship. Take delight in humor and the laughter it produces. The list goes on. Caught up in our never-ending lists of things to do, we often overlook the breathtaking miracles that inhabit our everyday lives.

I hope that my advice will help you somewhat in facing the stress of academic life. At times it can seem like the stress has taken control of your body, and that relief will never come. But the quarter always comes to an end, senior year will finally arrive and conclude. Life always goes on. You've made it through some tough times in the past, and there is no reason why you can't do it again.

Jeanene Harlick is a junior English major.