Stress is "a state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium". Originally, stress was a metallurgy term about the force one inanimate object exerted against another. Today, when we talk about stress we're talking about people. We are not designed physically to keep up with the technology we are smart enough to invent. Biologically, we are still quite primitive and our reactions to stressful situation are exactly the same as those of our original ancestors. Our bodies respond to stress by pumping adrenaline into our systems as a way to prepare for "fight or flight". Our muscles tense, we are ready to fight or flee for our very lives. Unfortunately, that response was created for things like saber tooth tigers, not a slow ATM machine or the person with fifteen items in the twelve-item line. The physical response is designed to give us the best possible chance of survival in a dangerous situation. "Fight or flight" was not intended as a response to the fax machine getting stuck. But, it's the only physical response we have for stress and so instead of using it sparingly as our ancestors did, we find ourselves having small stress reactions all day long. As technology continues to speed up our lives, we become more and more stressed because we are unable physically to go as fast as our machines would allow. Yet, we try and try to keep up, only to fall further behind, feeling more exhausted, and wondering what's wrong with us. There's nothing wrong with us at all. We just aren't equipped to keep up with the machines. And it's time for us to stop trying. we live in a nanosecond world and it's taking a toll on our bodies and our minds. When adrenaline is constantly being pushed through our system, we wind up on an endocrine seesaw. First we're wired and then we crash. Each of us is going to have to take responsibility for finding "slow" places for ourselves.