When worrying won't do the trick (6/28/04)

“Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.” ~Glenn Turner

I am stuck in major worry-mode this week. Normally, I find worry to be a useless emotion and as such not worthy of my time. However, a recent telephone call from my sister-in-law brought on this attack of concern. She brought me up to date on the latest happenings in the family. Sometimes it seems like the folks in soap operas have fewer problems than my family.

I know full-well that most of my apprehensions are groundless. Its the ones that are full of possibility and probability that have brought a frown to my face and caused my mind to dwell on things better left alone. The fact that the consequences I fear often come to pass does nothing to ease the cloud of gloom and doom that hovers over my head.

Perhaps I should invest in some Guatemalan worry dolls. According to legend, these tiny creations have “the ability to remove worries from sleeping children.” One worry is whispered to each doll then the dolls are placed under the child’s pillow. In the morning the dolls have taken the worries away. They cost $2.99 for six of them. I suppose they are reusable. It sounds like it would be uncomfortable to have a bunch of dolls stuck under the pillow, and what if one of the worries was that the doll would suffocate during the night? Yikes!

It would be worth it if it worked but the information didn’t specify where the unwanted worries ended up or if the dolls worked for adults as well as children. It also didn’t say if it worked for non-Guatemalans.

It would be my luck that I would get a defective doll. It would deposit everyone else’s worries under my pillow instead of taking mine away. I think I’ll skip this method of easing my mind.

Maybe I should try some worry beads. These are supposed to calm stress. All I would have to do is run my fingers over them and play with the beads. It sounds easy enough. I found some that have “traditional metaphysical and healing properties.” Do these things work over long distances and heal those I am worried about? The advertisement doesn’t say. I’m not sure I need metaphysical properties, traditional or otherwise. This doesn’t sound like such a good idea after all.

Then there are worry stones. These are just pretty rocks that someone polished up all nice and shiny. The smooth, cool surface is soothing to the touch. If one of your worries is about the bully down the street then the rock could come in handy, especially if your name is David and the bully is known as Goliath.

I carry enough junk around with me without loading my pockets down with stones. Besides, I can’t see paying for a rock, even if it is pretty.

I will deal with my worries the same way I always do. At night, I dump them in God’s lap. He’s going to be up all night anyway and he has more information at his disposal than I do. During the day, I try to come up with solutions to all the dire consequences I imagine. My solutions often lead to even more things to worry about.

When all else fails, I bake. It may not solve anything but it does make me feel better. There’s just something about beating eggs into submission and the process of turning disparate ingredients into tasty treats that calms the swirling thoughts of impending disaster.

I know that the only way to ease my worries is to plan a trip to visit those I am concerned about. Then I can see for myself if my fears are justified or not. The only real way to deal with worry is to face the unknown head on and come up with a plan of action that will provide the best possible outcome, or at least an acceptable alternative. Its much more effective than dolls, rocks or beads and lets me believe I have some control over the things that worry me. But first I have some baking to do.

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