Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/472327
Voices 8 | Overdrive | March 2015 I was told two and a half years ago I would have to manage my stress better. Hmmm. I spent my former life running around, giving meds and making sure people didn't die on my 12-hour shift. I never had high blood pressure then, but after jumping in a truck for six months, I attained record numbers, and not in a good way. One explanation is that life-and-death nurse situations come with very specific procedures, and you have some measure of control. Being in hairy traf- fic is a complete crapshoot. With heart issues, stress probably isn't as much of a factor as the sedentary lifestyle. If you never make your heart work a little harder, it has no reason to work harder. It's kind of lazy. This, coupled with my lack of truck-specific stress-processing tools, set me up for a perfect storm. My doctor was trying to determine what stressed me out so bad. She was amazed at what I told her. "People are angry on the road, Doc. Any number of times during the day, I watch someone freak out and start screaming at either us or another car. I saw an old lady destroy her cell phone – she just smashed the crap out of it on the steering wheel and threw it down into the floorboard." "That kind of stuff hap- pens a lot?" "Every. Single. Day. And I haven't even begun to tell you about the chick shav- ing her legs, while talking on the phone … " "I can see how that would be alarming." "That's not even a good one. You should have seen the pants-less bald guy in Missouri, he was … " "I think I get the idea." So we discussed some stress-relieving methods, most of which involved me staying in the bunk with a Scooby-Doo coloring book for large portions of the day, especially when we're in heavy traffic. Believe it or not, this is also a stress reliever for George, who doesn't have to listen to me gasp and curse every five seconds. I am once again (for the gabillionth time) grateful for his calm disposition. I also took up crocheting – and I've seen more than one big ol' man trucker sitting in the cab knitting or crocheting on his break. I think it's great, and the doc tells me the mundane repetition is calming to the mind. She didn't take into consideration that I can't crochet a straight line, so my mundane repeti- tion doesn't create lovely scarves and blankets but rather lumps of yarn that for some strange reason resemble pyramids. So as evidenced by my recent normal blood-pres- sure readings and George's ever-even temper, it's possi- ble to find stress relievers. It's also important to take regu- lar walks and eat as healthy as possible, but those aren't nearly as fun as coloring or creating lumpy pyramids. Or beautiful photography. Find a hobby you enjoy – it's good for your mind, and that's good for your business. Wendy Parker chronicles her journey on the road with her owner-operator husband, George, in the George and Wendy Show blog on OverdriveOnline.com. Scan the QR to read more from her on your phone or tablet. Got stress? Get out your coloring books! "When the weather is good, I like to fish, but running team and doing flatbed, there is little room for the gear now. I used to ride motorcycle, but my knees have slowed that down to nearly nothing now. Now I use amateur radio – ham radio, if you will – as a combination of stress reliever and to fight boredom. I can do it from the comfort of my truck, parked or going down the road, or sitting in shorts and bare feet at home. Rain or shine, morning or night. I started in ham radio in 1997." — Gordon Alkire, via OverdriveOnline.com I've decid- ed that being an adult is too hard. If you need me, I'll be under my blanket fort, coloring. Wendy Parker's owner-operator husband, George, uses photography as his stress-relieving escape. "He's created some beautiful work," Wendy writes, including this Ohio sunset at the I-70/I-675 junction. Find more of George's photos at his "Truckers Lens" Facebook page: facebook.com/truckerslens. George Parker