Main causes of stress
I know people think that we in religious orders don't suffer from stress like others because we don't have to worry about mortgages and car loans. That ought to be true, but there are other forms of stress. There's the stress of living somewhere that is not of your choice, with people you have not chosen. Having said that, of course you make friends.
There can be some stress with my work with Focus Ireland because there are times when you cannot help someone, and that's frustrating. On the other hand, you get to help a lot of people and you are grateful for that.
I don't find the work very difficult and I think that's because of my other walk of life - my order is the Irish Sisters of Charity.
Coping with stress
I have a very private life and a very public life. In my private life I try to have an inner peace, a spirituality. That helps me to cope with my other life, which is pretty hectic.
I am very much a morning person and begin each day with prayer at 5.45 a.m. until 8.30 a.m. During that time I walk, and that's an opportunity to be quiet and grateful. You have the extraordinary sight of the sun rising and it reminds you that you are starting a new day with new opportunities.
I love the garden; I find it very peaceful and restful to listen to the earth. I love to read poetry too; I find it very relaxing.
The value of memories
We live in a culture of forgetfulness, but it's good to think of good things that happened in the past. We should remember how they made us happy. Sometimes, we just remember the bad things.