What? Me Worry?

Anyone my age knows the Mad Magazine icon, "Alfred E. Neuman," and his "What? Me Worry?" tagline. I have said the words so many times, so nonchalantly, like my buddy Alfred E., but inside my gut was churning. Our minds are so powerful! They control every aspect of who, how, and what we are. To some degree, they can even control certain illnesses and their intensity.

Doctors have proven that a mind full of negativity and worry creates stress, which creates cortisol and damages our bodies. It can bring about depression and other emotional problems.

So why do we worry? A lot of it's based on our basic personalities - do we see the glass as half- full or half-empty? I'm a half-full type of gal mentally, but my body says half-empty! Another aspect is the physical as in someone like myself, who is predisposed to depression.

***I had to stop typing this because of the aura I'm getting due to the onset of a migraine. I've taken my meds and will try to continue but it will probably not go in the direction I wanted...

I used to laugh at my hubman's mom because she worried nonstop about us. If we were going to see my mom, she asked that we call and let her know we arrived safely because the L.A. traffic worried her. Inevitably, we'd forget to call in the hubbub of arriving and she'd be on the phone before we knew it. I always felt bad but down deep, I thought it was a bit much. Well, guess who's doing the worrying now? What goes 'round does indeed, come 'round! My daughter and her sons travel a lot and when I don't hear from her when she's on the road, I really worry! I'm sure my dear MIL is somewhere saying, "See?" And it serves me right!

But my worrying for my daughter's safety isn't going to make her safer. Case in point: My first husband and I were married in 1965 and he stayed just ahead of deferment for the draft. I would lay in bed at night, unable to sleep because I knew he'd be drafted and die in Viet Nam. He did die young, but only a few blocks from our house in a car accident! Unnecessary worry like that takes it toll on you body and your emotions. I have had panic attacks, migraines, IBS, anxiety, lower immunity to disease, etc. I've tried to reverse the damage that I've done but it's a rough road and one involving exercise, my old nemesis. But it's "fixable," for the most part.

Today, I have heard from dear people that I love and care about that are in places in their lives that they'd rather not be. I worry about them. That's okay - that's empathy; that is concern that creates long prayers lists! This gives us an opportunity to at least feel that I'm being productive in some way, whether or not one believes in prayer, as I do. It gives you a focused activity and an outlet for the worry and anger. It's all of the non-productive anger and worry that creates all of those negatives in the darkrooms of our minds.

To all of you special people who are carrying burdens right now, you know I love you and am thinking about you continually. Whether it's money, relationships, illness or strife, please try to find a productive way to deal with it. Do as I say, not as I do!

Things in this life are never simple, but Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~Swedish Proverb