What's your favorite or best way to deal with hardship or stress in your life?

I lean on friends when in times that it is necessary.

Lt Col Charlie Brown I sing, I pray and I have written poetry in the past.

Wind therapy get on my bike and ride

I must admit that during the period of the early 1970s to the turn of the new millennium, while in the course of my law enforcement career, my response to stress was to internalize it. For most of that time, I was unmarried and had few persons in my life with whom I could share any of its toils and tribulations. The result was very unhealthy, mentally and physically, though I did not know it at the time. Knowing what I know now...I am amazed that I survived. A number of my co-workers did not, some in the midst of their careers, others after retirement. Joseph Wanbaugh understood when he wrote Choir Boys.

Maj Marty Hogan Sgt Kelli Mays SFC (Join to see) Erin Nelson Nicci Eisenhauer COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SPC Diana D. SCPO (Join to see) LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson 1stSgt Glenn Brackin MSgt Stephen Council LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. Sgt Deborah Cornatzer Maj Kim Patterson Col Dona Marie Iversen Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest CPT (Join to see)

I tend to find a really interesting book and get lost in it.

CPT Jack Durish CW5 Jack Cardwell MSgt Stephen Council LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. Maj Robert Thornton SFC Francisco Rosario LTC (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SCPO (Join to see) Sgt Kelli Mays Cynthia Croft Susan Foster Alan K. MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint Col Robert Wallace Col Joseph Lenertz 1SG Carl McAndrews PO3 Bob McCord

I like to engage in sports. I play golf, ice hockey, triathlons, & scuba diving. There is always an activity that will help me reset and get back to a normal state of mind (at least in my own terms). The other thing i like to do is pray and talk to God above all things.

It depends on where I am mentally.

Survival: I focus on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Good hygiene, sleep, food, working out, clean house, sobriety.

Stress: I look at life as gunnery and stressors are targets. I prioritize stressors so they don't become overwhelming. Shoot the targets close to you. Those who are too far to hit, put on the back burner.

Changing the attitude: I mentally think about all that I love in the world. It breaks the chain of negative thinking and makes me feel better. I also focus on long term dreams as an impetus for me to keep working at them.

I ride one of my motorcycles when I get stressed. Most of the time it keeps me from being stressed to start with.