Deadlines.... "I got certain goals I wanna reach in life...I wanna do it in a certain amount of time..." With my 21st birthday looming, midterms coming up, and the Study Abroad deadline on the horizon, there are a lot of things I want to do, and there are certain goals I want to reach by Spring Break, but the deadlines aren't my deadlines and they're coming up faster than I would like. I guess, like Phil Ade said, I should want to reach my goals in the shortest amount of time possible; requiring the most effort at max capacity. It may seem tireless and gruesome while striving for my dreams and goals, but the harder I work, the sooner those dreams will be reached. 

The Arabica coffee bean: one of, if not the greatest thing this world has ever seen. I have to be honest, I feel like there hasn't been a food product/consumable item that has had half the impact that the Arabica coffee bean has on our world. 

It is believed that the Arabica coffee bean has been cultivated for human consumption for almost a thousand years now; legend has it, the Arabica bean was first cultivated after people witnessed goats mounting each other after eating the plant. The bean began to be used for human consumption and scholars began to report that it helped in extending their work hours and subsequently their production. 

Since the late 15th century, coffee has been served in public places. Constantinople, (modern-day Istanbul), was the birthplace of coffee houses. Coffee was such an important product then, that a wife could legally divorce her husband had he not provided her with enough coffee. Turks usually enjoyed their coffee black, with little to no doctoring up with cream and sugar. It wasn't until the 16th century that people started to add spices and creams and sugars to play with the flavor of their coffee. Coffee houses began to grow in popularity in Europe after a British man on business enjoyed the houses in the Turkish lands. He brought the idea back to Britain with him, and coffee houses shot up all over Europe; Italy, Paris, and Germany all had their own houses by the middle of the 17th century. Since, the coffee houses have developed into bakeries/coffee shops worldwide; the most famous chain is known as Starbucks.

The Arabica coffee bean, native of Ethiopia, provides consumers the stimulant known as caffeine. Caffeine tricks your adenosine receptors into believing that your body is still producing ATP (which is what gives you energy). Short term (about 4-6 hours worth) benefits of caffeine include increase in alertness and awareness. Most people drink a cup of coffee in the morning to help them get through the work day. Long term benefits include lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower risk of cancer and the aid of cognitive function and memory as you age. 

Like all things though, coffee and caffeine both deserve to be enjoyed in moderation. Too much caffeine (about 5-6 cups a day) can cause anxiety, insomnia, and an increase in blood pressure (for the "not-often" consumer). Too much caffeine consumption to going cold turkey can cause headaches and and fatigue, due to withdrawal. 

I meant to post this on Friday, but I guess it goes perfect with the title of this blog, "Stressful Sundays."
I mentioned last Sunday that I had a lot on my plate, and I feel like this week and the upcoming weeks are probably getting tougher for you as well (the proof is in your tweets), but for all of us there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Things to look forward to (if you're into such things) include the Grammy's tonight, March Madness is only a few weeks off, lacrosse and, of course, baseball seasons will be in full swing in a few short weeks.

As for me and my life, I had my first "community service" assignment this week after meeting with the Boss to re-outline my hour requirement for this semester. This first assignment- work/assist the school in setting up for the annual Pink Game that our women's basketball team hosts. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to reconcile with the Boss, but this time he asked me to miss some of practice, and that didn't fly well with Coach. Anyway, I left practice an hour early, showered up, and headed to the game. I met with the athletic director and got started on whatever he needed help with. It just so happened that I showed up right when he needed someone to grab a table. I grab the table; I'm thinking "whoa, it's gonna be a long busy night...and I didn't even eat dinner yet.." I set up the table and I stood around waiting to see if I was needed anywhere else. I waited...and waited....and waited. Then the game started. 

Despite a rough start filled with sloppy play, turnovers, missed shots, and poor defense, the women rebounded and pulled out the W. But that's what I did the entire time; I missed practice and all to set up one table and watch the game. I'm not complaining that I got to watch my true love (the game of basketball), but I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to eat, I wasn't really needed, and I missed part of practice. I hate that...if there's anything in this world that I hate, it's missing practice. 

This was the first of many service assignments lined up for me throughout the semester, and although it was relatively short, it proves that I have a long road ahead of me until I'm totally reconciled with the Boss.
If you too feel like the road ahead of you is starting to be a lot to bear, there are plenty of things you can do on your own to help make the road a little less stressful. The gym to get a good workout is always a good way to take your mind off things for a little bit and clear your head. Pop in your headphones and hit the weights, or treadmill, or the elliptical. Just go. There are movies playing. If you have the funds, hit the theater near you and catch a flick. Girls, retail therapy is a real thing (if you want it to be).

On a serious note, if things start to become unbearable, don't be afraid to reach out to people. High school, college, no matter the school, there are people who are trained to help you. If your ego is getting in the way, try to vent to friends. Your friends won't be afraid to help you, and they certainly will not be afraid to get the professional help you may need.

I sit here, on my computer, more focused on homework and my studies, rather than the blow out that's taking place in New Orleans, and I'm drowning myself in my own anxiety. I should be stuffing my face with greasy finger-foods, indulging in the exceptional entertainment of the great American sport of football (and Beyonce), and crushing cans of cheap beer. Rather, I am click-clacking away on my Macbook, occasionally reaching for my blonde-roast (black) from Starbucks, shaking from anxiety and, probably, all the caffeine in my 16oz coffee. 

I probably shouldn't feel this way, considering we're only 3 weeks into the semester, but I do. I have a lot of pressure on me to do well this semester in the classroom, on the lacrosse field, and for the community. With a required 28 hours of community service due to be completed by March 1st, the first lacrosse game on February 23rd, and the workload in all my classes starting to roll and pick up like a snowball down a hill, I feel like I'm the 2013 San Francisco 49ers. My back is against the wall; I'm down 22 points, with the clock winding down. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but right now I could use a serious dose of some alternative medication. 

Luckily, for me, and anyone else who is stressing out, there are things we can do to de-stress. The game is on. The BIG game! If you don't like football, watch the commercials! They're hysterical. Enjoy this unofficial American holiday; eat nasty foods, watch football, drink cheap beer (probably shouldn't), and spend time with your buds/pals/gals/pets. Sometimes the best way to de-stress is to totally take your mind off what's bugging you for a while. Give up, for an hour or 2. When your mind is ready to take on all that is on your plate, get back on your grind. I can't wait for the game to be over, so I can finally get back on mine.

I think, in one way or another, we all suffer from some sort of stress or stress-related symptoms (especially us college students). As a junior in college, the degree of difficulty in all my classes is actually a lot easier than I expected it to be, but the workload in all my classes is enough to end my days with cramped hands and bloodshot eyes. Add lacrosse 6 days a week to my schedule, throw in working out on my own; that leaves my whole body shot. Add in time for my girlfriend...when the hell am I supposed to sleep? 

I find myself, every Sunday (and even on this great American Sunday...Superbowl Sunday), wishing I did my work throughout the week so it didn't all pile up. I can't even count the number of cups of coffee I drank throughout the week on one hand (sometimes I consider caffeine my alternative medication, but my doctor thinks otherwise), and I often ponder the suicide rate among college students, and how come I haven't jumped off a bridge yet. To prevent myself, and my peers, from leaping off the Ben Franklin into the Delaware, I'm on a quest to find out what LVC has or what LVC does to help its students through stressful times. Whether it be weekend entertainment, student counseling services or fitness classes, or if students out there are doing their own thing to de-stress, I will find it. When coffee just isn't doing the trick and you're inches away from ripping your hair from your head, tune in to check out what people around you are doing and how they keep going in their most stressful times. Maybe you'll find your alternative medication.