a. “Running up a tab.”  It is hoped that your learners scored below 150, a stress level at which it is unlikely that they will experience health problems because of stress. However, there is still the future of life events up ahead. What higher-ranked life events are ahead that will “run up that tab” on their health? 

b. It will be unpleasant to contemplate answers to this question, but it will more deeply imprint the real cost of stress.  It insidiously undermines one’s health. 

c. Have them open their text to page 245 and this questionnaire. 

d. In silence, have them start at the bottom of this list and touch each item with a pen or pencil. As they touch the item, have them ask themselves, “Could this really ever happen to me? Could I let this happen to me?” If yes, they should jot that number down on a separate piece of paper. 

e. When they get to the top item, ask them to stop and tally the numbers from the items they acknowledge are possible and possibly unpreventable in their futures. 

f. This is the potential “tab,” to put up with bits of their health and well-being. 

g. You might invite them to talk over these results in pairs or in small groups. However, contemplating this sobering prospect alone may be more meaningful.

h. The main point of doing this is to recognize how precious it is to be healthy and pledge to be proactive in keeping that tab low or lower than it was when they completed the assessment before this extension of the assessment. Refer them to pages 278-279 on Individual Stress Management.