Monday, September 20, 2010

Do you worry?

I am a bonifide worry-wort. That's what my mom calls me anyway. I worry. A lot. About big things, and about silly things. I worry about the fact that I worry too much. It's an illness. I know.

Today, I am trying not to worry too much: I'm trying not to worry about the results to all these tests on my heart. I'm trying not to worry about if I'm doing a good enough job as a mom. Or a wife. Or a housekeeper (ha ha, I know I'm failing at that one most days!). I'm trying not to worry about money, or muscle definition, or how long it takes me to run (or if I can even make it the distance I need to), or hearing back on some potentially big news. There are SO many things to worry about. Sometimes, I feel so overwhelmed by it all, that I almost start to feel crushed by it. So this quote really made me take a step back:

"Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today, I am going to focus on what I'm doing RIGHT NOW and do it to the best of my ability. If, at the end of the day, I know I was fully invested in everything I did, in the moment I was doing it (instead of worrying about what I wasn't doing), I think I will go to bed happy. What do you think? How do you deal with your worries, whether in pursuing publication or in life?

17 comments:

Colene Murphy said...

Good luck not worrying, its a relief not to all the time.

I can't say I have overcome my worrying tendencies but it helps to know worrying wont solve anything and is a waste of energy I could be putting to working on all those things I worry about.

Theresa Milstein said...

I worry too much too.

I hope you get good news about your heart and the potentially big news. Please share with us when you do.

Windy Aphayrath said...

I am a worry-wart too. My husband can totally attest to that, but I've found the two things that have really helped me are spending time doing fun things with my family and also losing myself in my stories, reading or writing. A good story just has a way of taking everything away from you, at least for a little while.

Sara B. Larson said...

C.E. - It is a waste of energy, and some days I do a much better job than others. All you can do is try, right? :)

Theresa - I'm glad I'm not alone! Thank you, and I will!

Windy - Again, I'm glad I'm not alone. Those are definitely things that help me as well.

Shallee said...

I'm definitely a worrier too! I usually do a lot better if I'm busy, so I don't have time to worry. I try to keep as busy as possible, lol.

Angie said...

I used to be the same, but I have learned to let things go and be at peace. I've found that things turn out the same whether I spend time worrying about them or not. Good luck. I hope everything comes out right.

Elana Johnson said...

Oh, I'm a huge worrier. Will I get the seat I want at the movie theater? The list could go on and on. I've been worried so much lately, that I refuse to go to bed until I'm so utterly exhausted that I can't hardly see. Otherwise, I just lie there, worrying.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I'm a chronic worrier. =P

Hoping to hear good things about your heart results!

Nicole Zoltack said...

I worry all the time, it's a wonder that I don't get stomach ulcers. Sometimes it affects my sleep. And with a 6-week old, I need all the sleep I can get!

Russo said...

This post totally spoke to me-I worry like no other. Thank you for writing this post. And you find the best quotes, girl.

DL Hammons said...

I follow that same mantra. Worry about what's infront of you, that you can do something about. It's always worked for me. :)

Carolyn V. said...

I always worry. Which makes me eat too much. Which makes me worry. Which makes me eat too much. Ugh! I just need to cut down on the chocolate and finish that book. =)

Unknown said...

I go above worrying into flat out uncontrollable anxiety--so I know what you mean. When things get too tough I turn to my kids for a distraction.

Cinette said...

I used to worry about everything, and then I met the woman who would be my mother-in-law. The woman will watch the news every night just to find more things to worry about! For her, it's an addiction that keeps her from living. I refused to let myself become like that, and learned to let go of everything I had no control over.

jessvb05 said...

I also worry way too much. I agree with that quote; it is such a waste to worry. It's one thing to take action and make changes when possible, but the hard thing is let go of the worries when we can't change something. It's a work in progress for me :)

Maegan Langer said...

I do this too - sometimes I have a hard time focusing on the task at hand because I'm so busy worrying about all the other stuff I feel like I should be doing. It's good to know I'm not as weird as I thought. BTW, thanks for thinking of Challenging the Gnome for those blog awards :)

Sara B. Larson said...

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who worries! It's definitely a learning process, but it sounds like it's possible to quit. Thank you so much for all of your comments.

But what if I can't? What if I just keep worrying? Oh... wait. ;D