Stress:  Importance, significance, or emphasis placed on something.

When I was 8 years old, my mother signed me and my sister up for piano lessons.  My sister took lessons for a few years before dropping out; it just wasn't her thing.  I, on the other hand, stuck with it until I was 18.  I fell into the middle category of musical students... not horrible... but also not a child prodigy (perhaps if I had practiced more instead of being distracted by social activities... but that is another story).

I used to drive my teacher crazy... I just couldn't seem to put the proper emphasis (or stress) on the correct notes.  I didn't get the feel of the music.  My timing was off.  I couldn't seem to grasp the importance of certain sections, musical phrasing; I stressed the wrong notes.

I realized earlier today... that I'm facing the same problem.  If life is a melody, then I'm allowing myself to stress the wrong notes.  Instead of a beautiful, calming rhythm... I'm anxious and disjointed.   This aura of stress is affecting me... and others in my life.

Perhaps it's time to retreat into quiet reflection.... to take time for those things that relax my soul... to place the emphasis on the right notes.