Ordinary Times

The other day at the grocery store, I ran into a long time acquaintance. This acquaintance of mine used to live in my neighborhood, and my youngest son and her only son were good buddies in high school.  

Whenever we see each other, of course we want to get the latest news of one another’s sons. Seeing her this time around, well, there was nothing new for either of us to report. In response to no news, she said, “Sometimes the ordinary and the usual is good.” 

I have to agree with her. The usual, regular, common, plain and simple seasons can be good because that means that tensions, distresses and pressures of life are low. 

Stress used to be an engineering term that meant an actual physical strain put on a structure. But then, a man by the name of Seyle, expanded the meaning by exposing lab rats

 to different stressors including; exposure to cold, surgical injury, spinal shock, excessive muscular exercise and sub-lethal doses of drugs. 

After the rats were exposed to these stressors, they experienced a myriad of symptoms unrelated to the stressors. Stress markers showed up in changes in the brain and in the body. Thus began the study of stress and its effects on humans. 

We all experience stressful times in our lives; stress meaning the natural physical reaction when confronted with a physical, mental or emotional challenge. 

For instance, we experience short term, or acute stress when we encounter a near miss car accident. Our heart rate goes up, and our bodies experience an adrenaline rush. But because it was only a near miss and not a real accident, in a few moments, our body resumes its calm state.

Raising my sons, I faced acute stress or episodic stress on a regular basis; those two a.m. feedings, childhood illnesses and accidents and teaching each son how to drive. 

The stress I experienced was expected because of the season I was living through and once I’d lived through it, my body found a calm rhythm to return to.

Chronic stress is long-term, day in and day out ill at ease, high anxiety and perpetuating worries that occur when we are confronted with financial woes, unresolved conflicts or long-term illness. This kind of stress can result in exhaustion, weakened immune system, and depression. With chronic stress we lose our ability to return to a calm state.

So, when my friend says, “Sometimes the ordinary and the usual is good,” I will agree.

Why Bother?

Why bother being grateful for ordinary times? Bothering to be grateful for ordinary times is transforming because when our stress is less it means we have the pleasure to enjoy the ease of the of ordinary times.

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.