Bust the Stress-O-Meter

So maybe someone noticed my absence in the blogosphere. Yes?
What? Why the hiatus? Well, I’m smack in the middle of exam season. 2 down, 3 more to go! Fair enough? Fair enough. Merci.

Like most other kids-in-adult-bodies, I suffer from severe exam-anxiety. One night before the exam my stress-o-meter escalates like Delhi’s mercury. Last night was no exception—I had my Microeconomics exam today, don’t ask me how it was. I’m still in shock—and had it not been for my lovely friend, I would’ve drifted into the dreadful abyss-of-no-return. Mr. Smarty Pants knew I was drowning in self-doubt, so he sent me this beautiful poem. This isn’t particularly relevant to exam-time stress, but it sure calmed my nerves.

You start dying slowly

You start dying slowly;
If you do not travel,
If you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly;

When you kill your self-esteem,
When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly;

If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same path…
If you do not change your routine
If you do not wear different colours,
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly;

If you avoid to feel passion,
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly;

If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away…

You Start Dying Slowly!

~Ikeda Sensei

Beautiful, no? Now I don’t know crap about stress-management. I freak out and lose my shit at the smallest of issues, but here’s some kind advice from a hypocrite. Do not let one paper ruin your day, you’re bigger than a silly standard test. When the stress-o-meter turns red and is about to crack, shut those books and do what you love doing (Pick them up again once you’ve calmed your riotous nerves). Life’s made of bigger stuff!

Stress won’t take you anywhere in life; it surely won’t help you pass with flying colours, so why even bother? Do your best, and leave the rest to ______ (Destiny/God/Fate/Whoever/Whatever). So straighten your giddy head, and shove the bad stressy feelings into the bin. We humans perform best when we are happy and gay!

As for me, I’m gonna take cue from this wonderful poem and appreciate myself as I run away. No, not really. Running away can wait, I got an exam to give. Macroeconomics, I’m going to kill you.