Don’t worry, be happy
Sherri T.
These were definitely not the words of my mother. Most WOOM readers recognize these words as the title of a popular song.
My mother would never have said this. Correction: she would never have said all of this.
She wanted me to be happy. But the “don’t worry” part? Not in her DNA. She worried about everything. She was a worrier warrior.
Every venture was a potential misadventure.
Every step forward would likely have two steps back.
Every chance came with chances.
It was hard to see the glass half-full when it always looked half-empty.
But I get it. My mother faced many challenges. Worrying was her way of coping.
She always did the best she could, no matter the roadblocks placed in her path. She was like a general, leading her army (me) into battle.
First things first: Scope out the territory. Look for the pitfalls and avoid falling in. Find the negatives before they negate you. Seek out the sand traps and line up your club in the opposite direction. Strike first or strike out.
Funny thing. It turns out that most things consuming us with worry actually never happen. The new tires did not spin off the car. The dental x-ray did not show the need for a (dreaded) root canal. The freezing rain forecast that kept you up all night turned out to be fake news.
Of course, ignoring red flags would not be a good life strategy. But neither is the practice of trying to find joy in every waking breath. Stressing positivity all the time can be positively stressful.
Fortunately, some wise words I recently heard help create a good balance. They encourage us to see the world not as lemons but as lemonade.
“Stop worrying about what can go wrong. Get excited about what can go right.”
No, these are not the words of my mother. These are the words of my kids to me.
Apparently, the sharing of wise words between generations can go both ways. They help us flip the switch from being on the lookout to having a better outlook.
The bottom line: Time to stop being weary from worry.