Don't let STRESS strike you out!

Stress. You say the word and people nod their heads, sigh, shudder, walk away, change the subject or expound upon their personal experience with this emotionally encompassing word. It affects all of us yet it's symptoms and treatments vary uniquely for each individual. In our human and normal way we resort to a variety of cures and methods to beat the STRESS.  We all know someone who's done one or more of these things, but I thought I'd list them and see what I came up with, also hoping to hear about some other "cures" you may know. (none of them is wrong-my implication here is that we do these things in excess or at the exclusion of other things, meaning we're out of balance.)  So here goes;  physical activity, eating chocolate, compulsive spending spree,  TV, spiritual pursuits, focus on others, decorating and crafts, cleaning, talking on the phone, eating carbs, running errands, helping at the school, dieting, traveling, facebooking, surfing the net, online shopping,....what else? 
PS
This isn't a confession!  Please share your thoughts.

SPIRITUAL CALM

Who doesn’t like to sit on the sand, watch the waves and feel the rush of the ocean wind?

I feel calmness when the senses are soothed, the heart at peace and the mind free of fear. During the entire summer I waited for news whether I could get a loan for a mortgage, wondered where I would live, how would I pull of a move and go to work, was this right for us now, would it turn out okay? These questions beleaguered me night and day. It’s not that I didn’t doubt in my heart that the end was right, it was the means that were bugging me and the unknown and not in my control things that gnawed at my inner peace. The dance with the mortgage company, tedious and belittling dragged up past challenges and emotions that I thought I had completely dealt with, but there like dirty laundry came piling up needing my attention-again! Wednesday doubt and fear smacked me and I literally felt pummeled and pressed into the unknown. Although I have pursued greater commitment to my spiritual needs, I felt alone. I was on the treadmill “de-stressing” and darkness came billowing over me. I hit the red button and kneeled down and begged for peace. I will go where You want me to go and I will be patient and work through this with courage and with a positive attitude, but take this darkness away. Immediately I heard the rush of heaven’s door open and beginning with my baptism I saw my spiritual life experiences pass before me-non-stop. They didn’t end and I was overcome with peace and joy that I haven’t felt for months. There wasn’t one experience that I saw that had anything to do with my earthly accomplishments. All that I remembered was spiritual-baby blessings, boys baptisms, boys missions, my wedding, Ross and Megan’s wedding, baby Kent’s blessing and temple experiences flowed through me and filled me with the deep knowledge that all that was really important in life I had experienced and that I should feel this joy with all my being. I was overcome, but relieved, filled with joy, but confirmed in peace and resolve that the house stuff didn’t matter at all. The experiences that I have would carry me forward and be with me through eternity. Since then I have found new confidence and the fears disappeared. I can only thank my Heavenly Father for this wonderful insight and feeling of spiritual calm. I thank my husband for his sweet spirit and courage to pursue his faith, my children, Megan and Kent for their examples to me and their desires to live the gospel. Who cares what kind of a house? Who cares where it is? Who cares as long as these things are in place I can endure what life brings. I love my family and I’m grateful to receive that spiritual calm that I so desperately needed.