(photographer unknown – but a lovely picture I couldn’t resist…)
I’ve been reminded this week about the fragility of life and how it can change in just a single moment. We often spend our time planning for the future – all the things we will do when we have more time, more money, better health, have lost weight etc. etc. etc. And then we spend even more time worrying about what may or may not happen – the ‘what if’ syndrome…. Then there’s the time we spend worrying about what happened yesterday, last week, last year….
Ask yourself how much of your time you are spending planning the future and then worrying about it, or worrying about something you did or said yesterday?
We read the following poem (unknown poet) at my mum’s funeral – it was one of her favourites and she had it stuck on the back of the toilet door so she reminded herself every day about the importance of enjoying this very moment – not regretting the past or worrying about the future but enjoying every second of today:
What’s the use of worrying?
There’s no use worrying
There really are only two things to worry about:
Are you going to succeed in life or aren’t you?
If you succeed, there’s nothing to worry about.
If you don’t succeed there’s only two things to worry about:
Do you have your health or don’t you?
If you have your health there’s nothing to worry about.
If you don’t have your health there’s only two things to worry about:
Will you live or will you die?
If you live there’s nothing to worry about.
If you don’t live there’s only two things to worry about:
Will you go to heaven or ‘somewhere less desirable’?
If you go to heaven there’s nothing to worry about.
If you don’t you’ll be so busy greeting your friends that you won’t have time to worry.
So what’s the sense of starting to worry in the first place?
(unknown author)
So there you have it – STOP WORRYING! Life is fragile – it can change in a moment and it’s also a miracle. Every breath you take, every beat of your heart, every blink of your eye is your own miracle of life. Start enjoying your own miraculous life now – don’t wait until tomorrow…..
🙂
xx
hehe What could be more worrying than worrying about worrying? 😀
Only one thing and that’s me worrying about you worrying about worrying.. haha – see now where will this end.. Only one way – we have to stop the voices in our head! hehe xx
I just wish I could stop worrying more 🙂
O Oh… You’re worrying about worrying.. haha.. Seriously though – it’s not easy but you are the only person in control of the voices in your head and you can train your brain to think differently… it takes practice but it’s definitely possible and recognising you do it is the first step! Good luck.. xx
Wonderful post and reminder! Worrying is such a waste of valuable time!
As my mum would definitely have agreed – a wasted emotion! x
Worrying oh my. As a young person ohbi wortied about it all. It so draining. Over the last 4cyears life has hit us with so much stuff that both fear and worry have reduced because i jyst had to get on with stuff. When we trust in ourself that we have the capacity and we do baby steps to wards a task the worry and fear slowly go…
I think the habit of fear and worry are still there but i just push past them. I try afgirmations, gratitude, am remind my self of all that i have achieved..
Faith in god , faith in myself, kerp trying and trust gid, yourself and loa…it will work. And each time you have a baby step if syccess with worry …seriously pat yourself in the back.
Nice post, i had also read Wendys.
Thanks Bella – looks like we’re both ‘early birds’ today! I was a real worry wart when I was younger and gradually over the years, I’ve developed my strategies for ‘feeling worried and doing it anyway!’.. You’re so right – baby steps – chunking it down always helps me too. If I’m worried about something serious(you know – the life changing moments), I come up with ‘what would be the worst thing that could happen’ then I decide how I could deal with that ‘worst’ situation and it then alleviates my worry because I have a plan just in case.. my Plan B! x
And just getting on and doing stuff takes tge fear away. And confidence builds and then life just happens and you have to deal with. I think the last four years i have had to deal with so much and i have had so many realisation about me and my capacity.. and the false illusion that i had of others being better than me. All i know is feel the fear and do it any way -susan jeffers great book. But trust in yourself and baby steps..journalling .. life.. but it is a beautiful feeling overcoming fear and worry you become solid inside… quite inside and less wobbly… have a goid day and weekend..and good morning.. early bird me…oh trying…
All so true Bella.. And I love that book Feel the Fear.. it was the first ever ‘self help’ book I read and it set me on a new path in my life! You have clearly grown so strong through the trials and tribulations of the last few years Bella – how amazing and inspirational you are! Enjoy life and your weekend. x
Thanks wendy
I love the poem. Very true. Found this one on a greeting card once. Front : Good girls go to heaven. Inside: Bad girls go everywhere. I’m bad. Find you via the lovely Miriam’s reblog.
My thing though, because people can’t help themselves, is
1. don’t sweat the small stuff.
2 and if life is presenting challenges then don’t look at the big picture, focus on a day at a time and get through it that way.
Fabulous to meet you ‘bad’ girl! haha.. That’s really good advice – chunk it down to one day at a time – yep I can go with that idea! Thanks x
Hello Wendy! 🙂
I came over from Miriam’s website…she re-blogged your post and I’m glad that she did!
Ahh – how fab – I hadn’t realised Miriam had re-blogged.. It’s lovely to meet you and I’m so glad to meet you. I’m looking forward to popping over to yours now too!! Thanks so much for following. Have a great day xx
You’re welcome! I hope you’ll enjoy your time in my blog. Looking forward to reading more posts from you! Wishing you a great weekend! 🙂
I feel sure I will! You have a lovely weekend too! x
Worry wart here. Well put very nice!
I know – there’s a touch of ‘do as I say not as I do’ if I’m absolutely honest as I think we all have those moments of ‘worry’. However, in the scheme of things I have improved and do re-read this poem as a reminder! Thanks so much for commenting which is very much appreciated! x
I’m not sure where I’m going wrong but I was going to pop over to your blog but when I click on kountrymama2012, it’s taking me to a blank website.. If you can let me have your https address I’ll pop across.. xx
https://lifeinperspectiveweb.wordpress.com
Thanks – I got there in the end! x
I really like this. I used to kid myself that I was just planning for what might happen, but it was really unnecessary worry that kept me from living in the present.
Oh yep what ‘might’ happen but may never happen.. that’s a common worry for us all I suspect! xx
Beautiful post Wendy! I love that poem, and I love that your mom hung it up so she could see it often. Living in the present, being mindful of each moment, is so important. I’m working on that. Thanks for sharing! Jenny
Thanks so much Jenny that’s lovely feedback on my post! I know – the toilet guarantees seeing it daily.. hehe! The ethos in this poem is so true though and it’s something I’ve not been good at in the past but have got a lot better in the last few years! Have a brilliant weekend x
It takes some practice to think and live that way. I’m getting better at it 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
Thank you! x
Reblogged this on Out an' About and commented:
I read this post today and knew I wanted to share it. Wendy’s posts often resonate with me and none more so than this one. I’ve always been a worrier but I’m finally realising as life ticks on that going with the flow is a much better state to be in. Sometimes it’s easier said than done though so this poem is a great reminder of what matters …
Wow – thanks Miriam I REALLY appreciate the re-blog and the lovely comments. I’ve had quite a few new people pop across to my site as a result! Have a lovely weekend xx
Oh I’m SO glad Wendy. I love your blog so it’s only fair that others get to enjoy it as well! Enjoy your weekend ❤️?
Apparently the 30th September was my ‘best day for follows’ – little pop up from WordPress! THANKS Miriam!!! You have a brilliant weekend too xx (I’ve got no little pics but if I did it would be a glass of red wine! Cheers.. x)
Woo-hoo! Way to go Wendy. Cheers my friend ?? Here’s a glass for you too.
It’s 8 a.m. here in Manchester so maybe I’ll save this glass for another few hours or I may get the wrong kind of reputation! haha – I suspect it’s getting on for evening in Australia so hope you’ve had a great day and enjoy the vino! x
Oh absolutely, I’ll have one for you Wendy! Enjoy your Saturday. xo
xx
Wendy, would you mind if I reblogged this?
I’m on a catch up having been out for lunch with an old school friend (which was delicious and lovely).. I’m always very appreciative of a reblog so feel free anytime! Thanks again xx
Oh I absolutely love this Wendy, such a wonderful poem that speaks volumes. I’ve always been a worrier but as life ticks on I’m realising it’s way better to go with the flow. Worrying really achieves nothing. Thanks for this lovely post, now back to finish reading A Heavenly Party …
See – mum’s wisdom living on and spreading right across the world.. x
I love it! xo
xx
What a fabulous way to look at life! I really like that and think I will copy it out to go on my wardrobe where I keep my positive affirmations so I can see them every day too. Many blessings.
Author
I know it really is (doesn’t always stop me though..) My mum was a very strong character and the older I get the more I realise how wise most of her philosophies were although I didn’t always see it at the time! Thanks for reading my posts and I’m really pleased you found some inspiration to add to your positive affirmations – can’t beat it! xx
Bravo Wendy. Clap clap. Wonderful prose.
I’m not the worrier some are, and thank Jehovah God, I can be the one on speed dial (not allowed to get out of hand) when someone I know needs a jolt of…”You know this stuff. You’ve been here before. How did it turn out last time? What strategies do you already have that can be applied to your current woes???
Loved the poem and the image. It looks vintage, and well suited to this post.
Don’t you just love it when a post comes together???
Author
Sorry about the delayed response – I’ve been having a great weekend celebrating my sister’s 60th birthday…. say no more! Thanks for such a lovely comment on my post and it definitely sounds like your a good friend to have on ‘speed dial’ with such an amazingly positive attitude. x
Reblogged this on lifematterseveryday and commented:
Hey! I really enjoyed reading this blog about this certain topic. We constantly worry about the little things in life, but I think it is important to just relax and try not to ruin yourself with stress. I completely agree that there is no use in worrying about the future since it is unknown. You achieve nothing when you worry. I constantly struggle with trying not to worry about my life. Instead I should probably not care about what others think and just be the person that I am. Anything in this world can cause people to worry, but try this one time to not care about the future and what others think. LIVE YOUR LIFE AND DON”T WORRY!
Author
I’m really pleased you enjoyed this post. I’m trying to put worry on hold and to just go with the flow of life. Appreciating all that I have in this very moment – Life is pretty simple really, we just make it more complicated! Thanks for your comment and re-post I really appreciate it!