Things are busy and a bit chaotic in the Doberenz Household.

Freedom is just on the horizon but I still need to get through the rest of the week.

In the meantime, I'm wondering: How do you handle busyness? How do you handle stress?

For me, a good story puts me at ease. T.V. shows are the most passive way to engage with a story but stories can also include books or even a good conversation. When my life gets crazy, I've realized that I actually like stepping out of my present reality and into a different reality. Often times this means stories--there is something powerful in stepping out of my own life and sitting in someone else's moment. Other times, I just need a good distraction that completely takes you out of the busy moment into an almost alternate reality.

This week, I've attended two work dinners--one with my wife's work and one with mine. These have been great for stepping out of my present reality.

Being with my wife's coworkers is always interesting. I mean, they are great people. But they are accountants. Yes, accountants. So sometimes they say something that sounds like an incomprehensible foreign language when it's really just the U.S. Tax Code. But at this meal, the bosses' kids tagged along so I was distracted from stress and worry by a five-year-old tugging on my shirt asking me why I had arm hair and if she could drink my Dr. Pepper. What a party.

Then later in the week, my wife and I went to one of the university's dean's house with a bunch of the Student Life staff. Again, there were tons of kids and adults that could distract you from the insanity of life. The adults all stayed out of the pool while the kids flourished, but eventually, another young guy and I ventured into the pool. To my dismay, the kids mostly left me alone and ganged up on the other guy. As we all know, kids show affection to you by mercilessly wanting to drown you in a pool. Sadly, no one wanted to mercilessly drown me. Still tearing up a bit about that one...

These dinner experiences were great at breaking into my norms and forcing me into a new, fun environment in a way that eased stress, lowered anxiety, and generally made me happy.

Last week, a counselor spoke in front of a training I was a part of and said everyone needs one good conversation a day to be truly mentally well. We all need that human connection that goes deeper than "How are you doing?" "Fine." "That's good." "How are you doing?" "Good." We need experiences that are a lot more fulfilling.

Experiences that break up your mundane routine and involve communicating and having fun with other people are probably so powerful because they recharge our brains with positivity (which isn't the default setting for most people). We all need to mentally recharge our thoughts.

I think this is why Paul writes in Philippians 4:8-9 -- "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you."

You are to "think on" the right things in order to experience the God of peace more fully in your life. But just sitting there with a scrunched face trying to conjure up commendable thoughts doesn't usually work. To develop these kinds of thoughts, we often need to put ourselves in situations that promote these thoughts and feelings.

So go out to eat. Have a pool party. Play tic-tac-toe with a five-year-old who is a TOTAL CHEATER. Dive into deep conversations with people so that whenever you reach peak panic, your mind can be filled with "whatever" is beneficial to your spirit so that you'll find "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7).

Even Jesus was known to party. So I think it's safe to say you too can take a break, have some fun, and combat the anxieties of life with good company.

Off to have some fun,

Jake Doberenz