Rhyme and Reflection

Worry - to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy and frightened (Cambridge Dictionary)

Worrying is like a hobby for all of us, including me. I worry so much that I could get a gold medal for it ..  I worry about things that have happened, things that could happen, and things that might not even happen. I worry just by imagining situations .. conjuring up situations and throwing myself into the whirlpool. I don't know when it started, but now it seems to be an epidemic issue.

My mind is constantly filled with haunting thoughts like "Did I do that right?" or "Did I reply to that message the right way?" Even now, as I write this, I'm questioning myself, "Am I making a fool of myself by writing about this?"

Worrying is like an itch that you can't stop scratching. It feels like you're working toward a solution, but most of the time, you're just spinning your wheels ..  It's like your brain is a hamster on a wheel, going nowhere fast.

I tried all sorts of coping mechanisms, from interesting to downright ridiculous, but nothing worked .. Once, a friend of my spouse visited, and I pretended to be sick the entire weekend, just to avoid them. I know it's a puerile way to deal with anxiety, but hey, it worked that day!

I used to panic every time I had to make a presentation at work, even if I practiced and planned ahead .. I used to worry about being fired and being unemployable, even though my peers praised my skills and expertise. I thought I was failing because of my ineptitude .. But then, I read the book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain” and it gave me some much-needed comfort. It made me realize that it's okay to be anxious, but it's not okay to hold onto it. 

One solution that worked for me was writing all my worries down on a piece of paper, as if I were transferring the worry from myself to the paper. It might sound silly, but it worked.

Let's get real here: we're all going to die someday, unless some genius comes up with an immortality drug. So why worry about it? When we're dead, the world will keep spinning, and everyone will move on with their lives. Your spouse might cry for a day or a month, but eventually, they'll move on and find new love .. within a short time, everyone that you knew would have moved on .. You'll be relegated to the frames of pictures on the wall.

So, the next time you catch yourself worrying, take a deep breath and ask yourself, "Is this really worth my time and energy?" Because, let's face it, worrying is a lot like being a hamster on a wheel, except you're not getting anywhere.