Just Do It

When I was growing up, I would always wonder to how my father could be so cool even when he was under pressure at work. Working at the press is no joke. And did I mention that he was known as Mr. Cool? But of course still water runs deep. He was stressed out! There is no denying to that fact. Running the news desk is definitely not for the faint hearted. One fine day, I decided to ask him THE question! I asked, 'Daddy, how do you go about running the desk under severe stress?' And he had three words for me, 'Just do it.' He then told me that it is something that he had to do, there are no other ways about it and that he had to do it well. In other words, just take the plunge and do it.

I have been thinking of his words of late and when I reflect back on what has happened since Joel started Year One. I now fully understand what he meant many, many years back. I have always hated driving at the time when the sun is not out shining. And I had to do it when Joel started schooling in this new school. And so I adopted this 'Just Do It' mantra. I WAS stressed. I was up at 5am. I was in a new environment. I was exposed to so many chemicals. I had to take the 'famous interchange' where the flyover that was built to reduce the jam is an epic failure. It stops at the point where the congestion is at its worst! Talk about efficiency and common sense. Though this interchange is a nightmare, it cuts the time of the journey to Joel's school by half. To survive this interchange, you need guts! Lots of it. You have to be ruthless, brutal and yet make sure your car does not get smashed or even scratched. You have to make sure you are as close as possible to the car in front till it is like almost kiss-ass (make sure you do NOT kiss someone's ass), all senses alert that when there is a small opening, put on the signal and switch lanes immediately and then inch slowly like snails until you're out of it. Sounds like mission impossible eh? And I H.A.T.E it!

As I approach this interchange everyday, I will be chanting the 'Just Do It' mantra. I know I cannot avoid it. I know I have to do it. And I know that I have to do this everyday.  By adopting this 'Just Do It' attitude, it actually lessened the stress. Instead of stressing out, going bonkers and freaking out having to face the situations that I hate, my mind, body and soul instead, focus all their energy to get the job done. And to do it well. And to end up in one piece and arrive safely at my destination (wherever that is). It made a huge difference.

I have been thrown in a few situations where I wanted to scream that I did not ask for this! But instead I chant the 'Just Do It' mantra and move on to get whatever it is that needs to be done and found that I am indeed calmer in stormy seas. And I realised that stressing out and huffing and puffing around like the big-bad-angry-wolf will not make the stressful situation any better nor will it go away. And if you are one who is constantly looking for shortcuts and tries to squeeze yourself out of ANY difficult situation that comes flying across your path, assuredly I say to you, you will either end up six-feet under prematurely or you will be one of those famous epic failures in life.

Shall we all 'Just Do It?'