Stress

I have been considering stress this morning.  I have been trying not to stress about it.  There is though, a reason I have gone down this road.
I talked with a number of people yesterday and everyone seemed to be going through heaps.  The temptation for me is that I can think no one is going through stress like I am, but the fact is, most everyone is going through stuff that causes a high stress level.
I am reminded of the guys on Monty Python sitting around trying to outdo each other in how poor they were.  I do remember one saying they were so poor they lived in a pothole.  Another said that they were so poor that if they wanted a shower they used sand.  The next one of course said “Sand.  We were lucky to have sand.”
I feel it is a bit the same with stress.  I can feel what I am experiencing is the worst, but it seems it is just something everyone is experiencing.
We all react to it in different ways too.  I may have a stress level of three as might the person next to me.  But mine is 3/20 while theirs is 3/10.  Mine is like 15% while theirs is the same but for them it represents 30%.  To me it has to do with capacity.
But it does not matter how well or how poorly I deal with stress, I have a limit.  I am big on everyone’s need to get away from stressful situations for a while and get a refill.  I cannot assist myself or anyone if I am empty.
I reckon a certain amount of stress is good for me.  It seems to be a lot of people’s dream is to be like on an island reading a book and listening to music far from anything stressful.  I know I would enjoy that for a while but then it would stress me.  I need to recuperate but I don’t need to spend all day everyday recuperating.
It seems too that some people’s stress is self-inflicted.  I have heard it said, “most people don’t have a problem – they have a decision to make.”  Statements like that do not cover every situation, but they do cover most.  Sometimes relieving stress is just letting go.  I am deluding myself if I think I am the only person for the job.  I did wonder where they were going to find the 15 people to replace me when I finished work.  I told my brother up the coast that and he said, “only 15?”  Like for him it was 30.  However, they coped.  Life went on.
I do need a certain amount of stress.  It helps me function.  Maybe if I was comatose, I would not feel any.  But only I know when I have reached my limit.  I need to be careful I do not claim the stress is too much, when I only think it is too much.  I do not want to miss growing opportunities because I walked away when I was really only thinking I could not cope.   Things happen.  Unpleasant things.  I can’t consider it strange or that what happens to me is unique.
I am a part of the human race.  It happens.  Whatever resources I need I should utilize them.  There is no shame in needing help, but there is shame in not asking for it when needed.