What I Learned From… Stress
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[Note: For those folks who came here via High Calling Blogs, well Bubba, lemme just say I'm truly honored you're here, and I'd like to extend a warm welcome and a tip o' the hat to ya! I hope you like what you see. Better yet, I hope y'all decide to join us (and yes, even become a subscriber) as we share lessons learned from life, the universe, and you know, everything. Hey, I just dusted off the furniture, so if you like, pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage and come set for a spell. Trust me; you'll be glad you did.]
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Hey, whaddyaknow? You made it through yet another month (sound of cheering). And now that we’re here on this amazing, incredible, out-of-this world first Monday of the month, it’s time for yet another of everybody’s very favorite things.
No, ya big galoot; it’s not time for the ice cream truck (that’s, er, later - trust me)! Nope; it’s time for the next edition of the world famous, ground breaking, cholesterol-busting What I Learned From… groupwrite project! (Cue the band; cue the fireworks; and forget the cholesterol, pass me some - hey, who ate the cake?)
This time, I’m proud to say, we’re looking at a topic I think you would agree has probably touched virtually everyone who’s - ever - lived. Even, if you can believe it, your humble Proprietor.
Our topic this month is:

So the question of the day is, have you ever experienced stress? (OK, so it’s a rhetorical question.)
Hey, we all have, right? I mean, stress is basically unavoidable (facts of life and all, you know). But the real question is, what did you learn from it? Now that’s where the rubber meets the road!
After all, the whole point of our What I Learned From… projects is to prompt you (yes, you!) to write a story, a paragraph, a poem, a soliloquy - whatever - about something you learned from stress. It’s easy, it’s fun - and hey, you’ll be contributing to the General Body of Knowledge! And what, I ask you, could be finer than making a non-fattening, no obligation, tax-free contribution to the G.B.K., right?
How It Works
Hey, it’s easy! You are free to write pretty much anything you like - as long as it relates to the topic. Be specific. Be non-specific. And, since there is never a restriction on length, be as eloquent - or as brief - as you like. The main thing (which I think we can all agree should mainly be the, uh, main thing) is, be yourself!
Not only that, but if you’re feeling particularly inspired, write more than one entry! (I’ve written as many as three for one project and many folks have written two.) As a bonus, each entry earns at least two links back to you from the Zone. All I can add is: Go for it, Bubba!
OK, here’s the deal.
Typically WILF projects are open for contributions for one week, so that means I’ll be taking your entries from now thru midnight on Sunday night, October 12th. BUT (and please note, that’s a BIG ‘but’), if you miss the deadline, no need to have a hissy fit. Write your entry and send it to me anyway, and I’ll do my best to get it added to the list of entries later.
Standard Disclaimer: Should you or any of your team be caught or killed, or, you know, break a fingernail or something during the execution of this project, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your existence. Not to mention you’ll be sent to bed early without your supper. Hey, I’m just sayin’.
VERY IMPORTANT! To participate, here’s all you have to do:
- Write one or more new post(s) on your blog. As I said, feel free to be as eloquent (or concise) as you like. C’mon; show off for us, why don’cha?
- Include a link to THIS POST (uh, the one you’re reading now).
- Send me an email (rhruzek@sbcglobal.net) containing your name, the title of your post, and the permalink of the post. (To make sure I don’t miss it.)
That’s all there is to it! On Monday, October 13th, I will post the entire list of entries right here at the Middle Zone, so be sure and drop by to check ‘em all out. (By the way, that list will be preserved for posterior posterity with a permanent spot in the WILF archive page.)
As always, groupwrite projects are open to anyone (you don’t even have to have a blog to enter - just send it to me and I’ll post it as a guest post). Remember, we only have two simple rules around here:
For the sake of the general blogging audience, please keep it G-Rated. (Also please note: this is a request, not a demand, since after all it’s your blog and you can do what you want. Fair warning, though: I reserve the right to link to you or not.)- Be nice.
All right, ladies and gentlemen; you know what to do! Grab the writing instrument of your choice and let’s see what ya got!
[Further note from the Proprietor - I realize it takes time to write your entries, but would you mind too terribly NOT waiting until midnight on Sunday night to notify me? When everyone waits to the last minute (you know who you are!) it sometimes gets a little difficult to get them all compiled by Monday's 6 am post time. My muddah thanks you, my faddah thanks you, and I surely thank you for your consideration. As a token of my appreciation - have yourself a cookie!]
You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!
42 responses so far





[...] 6 10 2008 [I love being a part of the HighCallingBlogs Network. This post is part of a writing project with that network. The topic is actually "What I learned from Stress", but this blog is really less [...]
[...] For more on this topic, go to http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-stress/ [...]
Thanks for this month’s challenge Bob. To save myself any stress ( see what I did there?) I have posted way ahead of time!
Jackie Camerons last blog post..What I learned from stress
[...] Link to the announcement post. [...]
I’m impressed, Jackie! So early! Hey - did ice just form, uh, “down there”? (Just kidding!)
[...] is that time of month again, and Robert Hruzek says that this month we are going to learn a lot from stress. The problem is that I have never [...]
[...] month’s topic for Robert Hruzek’s writing challenge is What I Learned From Stress. Hey, I can do that. I mean, I have an entire blog devoted to the [...]
Great idea! It was fun puttng it together! Here’s my post…
http://managementbygod.com/2008/10/03/what-ive-learned-from-stress.aspx
Dan
Dan Kings last blog post..what i’ve learned from stress
Way to go, Robert. This is gonna be another interesting “What I Learned From…” contest and I can’t even wait to read every post here…
[...] October, Robert Hruzek asks, what have we learned from stress? Usually, Robert’s group project theme leaves me scratching my head for hours trying to come [...]
@Dan - Thanks for joining us this month, Dan! I hope to see you again for the next one, too.
@Wilson - I’m looking forward to reading your, too, Wilson. This one oughtta be a slam dunk for most of us.
[...] know, means made entirely of iron) turn of events (because it’s WILF week and the topic is What I Learned From Stress), well, it turns out it’s an appropriate entry for that as [...]
[...] and Robert Hruzek of MiddleZoneMusings.com are joining forces again to talk about what we’ve learned from stress. (The project is still open, just visit that link if you want to [...]
http://fess2.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-i-have-learned-from-stress.html
Gmans last blog post..Internet Videos Tempt Teens
Thanks, Gman! Got yours on the list!
[...] o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is an entry for this month's groupwrite project: What I Learned From Stress. See the bottom of this article for more [...]
[...] and Robert Hruzek of MiddleZoneMusings.com are joining forces again to talk about what we’ve learned from stress. (The project is still open, just visit that link if you want to [...]
Hi Robert
I thought I would be too stressed for time this time
(couldn’t resist the pun)
But here’s my contribution: Stress Facts
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
[...] subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note: Since we're in the middle of our "What I Learned From Stress" groupwrite project - and this article is stress-related - hey, I'm countin' this one too. You can [...]
@Karen - I knew you wouldn’t let me down, my friend! You’re in the pile for Monday’s list of entries. Thanks, and a tip of the hat to ya!
[...] See (in case you’ve been hiding under rock and didn’t know it), this week we’re smack dab in the middle of a groupwrite project here at the Zone called What I Learned From Stress. [...]
[...] of Financial Crisis Posted on October 9, 2008 by Christine Sine The group writing project What I have learned from Stress, initiated by Robert Hruzek’s on Middle Zone Musings really caught my attention this month [...]
[...] Robert Hruzek is doing over at his blog this month, Middle Zone Musings. His theme this month is What I’ve Learned from Stress, and he’s asking people to send him links to their posts about managing stress. Check it [...]
[...] o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: Yet another entry for this month's groupwrite project, What I Learned From Stress. If you'd like to join us, see the end of this [...]
[...] was thinking about this when I was trying to work out what on earth to write for this month’s What I Learned From… group writing project. The theme is stress, and I, like you, have been through plenty of stressful experiences in my [...]
Everybody wants it now! The stress is mounting today. I’ll see if I’ve really learned anything.
Hey Dan! Thanks for the entry, Buddy! Hopefully we’ll ALL learn something. Or die. Or something. :-\
[...] post is an entry for the Middle Zone Musings Group Writing Project, What I Learned From Stress. So, what about you, what have you learned from stress? Feel free to [...]
[...] than stay like this in a daze, I deem it better to answer the Middle Zone Musings’ “What I Learned From…” carnival. Blogging about one’s feelings is therapy, and so are the following [...]
[...] post is an entry into the Middle Zone Musings What I learned from Stress group writing [...]
[...] post is part of the what I learned from stress writing project from Middle Zone [...]
[...] life that I have recently been forced to acknowledge. Not because this is me taking part in the What I Learned From project over at Middle Zone Musings, but because I’ve never had to “deal” with it [...]
[...] come naturally to me…I even mourn when a favorite article of clothing wears out. So when Robert Hruzek asked us to talk about a time when we’ve been shaken by a stressful situation, I thought of [...]
[...] is my contribution for my pal Robert Hruzek’s group writing project, What I Learned from Stress. Lots of other good stress-induced learnings are gathering in the comments, so I hope you’ll [...]
After I posted my entry I realized that may not be “What I learned FROM stress”, my entry is more “What I’ learned ABOUT stress.” Hope no points get deducted
Funny, writing that entry may have even relieved some of my stress. Weird. But thanks. -SC
Scotts last blog post..Alco-stress
[...] The lovely Robert Hruzek of Middle Zone Musings invited me (and the rest of Blogland, because I’m not so special) to participate in a group writing project to share What I Learned From Stress. [...]
@Scott - Hey, no worries, Bubba! I just supply the topic and the forum; interpretation is pretty much up to the individual. So what you wrote is right on target.
Thanks for joining us this month!
[...] at Robert Hruzek’s place, Middle Zone Musings, the topic of today’s groupwrite project [...]
[...] Note: This is my submission for the “What I learned from” group writing project over at Middle Zone Musings. [...]
[...] This post is an entry in the What I Learned from Stress group writing project at Middle Zone Musings. [...]
[...] life that I have recently been forced to acknowledge. Not because this is me taking part in the What I Learned From project over at Middle Zone Musings, but because I’ve never had to “deal” with it [...]