Stress List

I want to eat when under stress. And boy, I'm treading in a pool of stress right now. Consider the top 10 causes for stress.

1. Serious illness in a family member (excluding death)
2. Serious concern about a family member (excluding illness)
3. Death of a family member
4. Divorce or separation
5. Forced to move (house)
6. Forced to change job
7. Been made redundant
8. Feelings of insecurity at work
9. Serious financial trouble
10. Been legally prosecuted

Looking at this list I shouldn't be feeling stress. A good friend is fighting cancer and losing. Visits to Hospice or more for his wife than for him as he is sleeping much of the time these days.

My daughter and her family are moving to Georgia along with my grandkids. Even though they will be only ten hours away, the fact that we've lived under the same roof for two years is quite an adjustment.

Now that they are leaving, we've decided to list the house and move to Georgia as well. When that happens, I'll be leaving a job after 12 years and wearing my writing hat full time.

Wrap all this up with the editing process for Windwalker while I start a sequel to Pumping Your Muse, writing my column and other freelance work and it might appear to add stress to the mix.

When I stand back and look at it, I realize it's life. All life holds some stress. The key is not to eat my way through it. I'm able to juggle all kinds of writing projects, family obligations and time to relax. I accomplish this by setting priorities. With the holidays fast approaching, a plan is in order.

Instead of waiting for the first of the year, I'm starting now. Maybe I can cross the threshold of 2006 five pounds lighter than today. At least I'd be heading in the right direction.