Are you a worrier? Do you worry about how your kids are doing in school? About your health? About how you are going to pay the bills? Oh, the list can go on and on, can't it? So now that you've answered what it is you worry about, let me ask you this... How's that workin' for you??
"Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow."
I used to worry more when I was younger. Not a lot, but more than I do now. Most of the time, it had to do with me being a perfectionist. I am always harder on myself than anyone else could or would ever be. I finally learned to ask myself this question when I realized I was worrying about something: "If I died tomorrow, is this what they would put on your gravestone?" Somehow, as morbid as it sounds, that put everything in perspective for me. Think about that question. I would love my epitaph to be something like this: Mom, Grandma, Sister, Lover, Friend - She excelled in those roles, the most important in her life.
The only thing worry does for me is to give me a better idea of what's important to me. Worrying about my kids doesn't prove to them I love them. But showing them I have confidence in their decisions does. Worrying about my health doesn't change the issue. Talking about, and doing, what I need to do to change it does. I know what I'm saying can sound cavalier to some. I think some people are hardwired to worry. But if you really think about what you accomplish by worrying, you'll realize you can take away its power. You'll no longer say, "I can't help it. I worry."
So for all those worriers out there, I'm going to offer the wise words of Leo Buscaglia,
"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow,
it only saps today of its joy."
it only saps today of its joy."
5 comments:
Yep . . . always have been. Although, I admit that I am getting better and worrying less. Although, after reading this, now I'm worried what my family would say about my messy laundry room if I died tomorrow. Promise me that you'll come over and clean it before LT and CB get here. (You can keep the good scrapbooking stuff!) ;)
No worries, Leanne....I got your back!!!
Sometimes it is difficult for me to distinguish between worry and concern. Are they the same thing? There are many things that concern me. Kids, relatives, friends and the future of each of them.
Certainly agree that action beats worry every time. Don't know of anything anywhere that was improved because of worry. Having said all this, it's true that talk is cheap. Not worrying is tough for many of us. Sometimes asking for a hand from family and friends is a great way to improve.
Wiser words were never spoken, Peggy. I do make an effort to not worry overmuch. I guess there can be a fine line between worrying and being conscientious, and we need to be alert to the difference. Hey -- have a great weekend, and I hope it's totally free of worry!
I tend to wake up at night and worry about work stuff, kid stuff, etc. Yikes@ I need to stop that!
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