Tom, you're a smart man. I'd give your left track nut for 7 weeks off a year. I'm lucky in that my job stress is actually pretty manageable these days. Either that, or the fact that Lovey refers to me as Mister Oblivious has merit. But really, I pretty much come and go as I please, no one really understands much what I do, and we seem to be making a little money somehow. Those all add up to not much stress. The biggest problem I have to deal with next week is what kind of new truck do I want to drive for the next couple of years, and how do I resolve a new company policy mandating 24 MPG with the need for a vehicle that I can take off road when necessary.

I understand what you are saying about dealing with difficult personnell matters being a primary source of stress for you. One thing I've finally at long last come to realize is the only person who I have any degree of control over at all is me. Everyone else has to take full responsibility for what they do or don't do. As a manager of people, that has been a great source of freedom from worry and guilt when I have to make unpleasant choices about how to deal with people problems that are most certainly inevitable. Now I calculate what is best for the business and the staff, and do that, and do not worry about what the affected people think about me for doing my job. I've found that the people that matter, those who are not the source of the problems are happy with that approach. My bosses have finally come to understand that about me too, and are supportive. I'm pretty sure God is OK with it too, he does not bother me much at night anymore.