Isn't it funny how much we let little things bother us? Oftentimes, we become so caught up in problems that really don't matter. We worry, and we fret, and, then, eventually, everything works itself out in the end. Even when things don't go our way, we pick up the pieces, and we move on.
Before I truly begin this post, allow me to divulge a brief anecdote about life when I was five. I remember waking up early one morning before anyone else was out of bed. I crept downstairs, undoubtedly clutching my tiger shark stuffed animal (who needs teddy bears, really?) and appreciating the rare tranquility of the household at 7:00 AM. Rather enjoying my newfound solitude, I pulled a bowl out of the cupboard (a REAL bowl, mind you...not some plastic kiddy bowl) and poured myself some Fruit Loops. Carefully, I added a bit of milk to the bowl and grabbed a spoon from the silverware drawer. I imagine I was quite pleased with myself at that point...but can you feel the impending disaster, ladies and gentlemen? Yes, that's right. As I lifted the bowl from the countertop, I felt it slide away from my fingertips (note: I really don't know how this happened... I have freakishly bad luck with these types of things. Just ask me how I broke my hand...except...don't...because it's an embarrassing story.). Anyway, a veritable explosion of milk, glass, and Fruit Loops shook the entire Hart household that morning... And with the shattering of that bowl came the shattering of my dreams. It was the end of the world. It really was. I stood there, amazed that the residual splatter of the skim milk had not only soaked me from head to toe, but had also managed to coat the entire back wall of our kitchen. And, if that wasn't bad enough, I had broken a BOWL. Back in those days, you didn't break a bowl and live to tell the tale. In fact, people were killed for much less. So, tears brimming in my eyes, I began to blot up the soggy mess with some paper towels, awaiting my inevitable doom. Sure enough, Mom entered the kitchen a few minutes later, and I knew my moment had come. At the very least, I would be flogged with the wooden spoon (did...your parents ever hit you with a wooden spoon...? Mine did...and it hurt. A lot.). But, then, a funny thing happened. Mom knelt down beside me and started helping me clean up the mess. Was this some sort of ploy to catch me off guard...? Did she have the wooden spoon hidden behind her back?! Nope. Turns out breaking a bowl (and spilling a little milk and cereal) wasn't punishable by death after all.
So, I assume by now that you understand my point. No? Well, perhaps that's because I've made it wildly unclear. Really, it's just what I stated in the opening paragraph. Far too often, I worry about the most trivial things. Granted, they seem important at the time--so important that I lose my focus on other much more important things. I just really need to let go of so many problems that have been stressing me out.
More and more, I'm finding that things have a tendency to work themselves out, anyway. Even when something blows up in my face, I usually realize later that it wasn't that bad in the end. Even when I'm certain that nothing could be worse, I tend to look back later and wonder why I was so bothered in the first place. Most of the time, once I finally stop worrying and just forget about my problems, they come to a resolution (note: this does not work well with exams). It's kind of a strange cycle, really.
So, I've decided that I'm going to stop stressing out over things that I can't control, and I'm just going to be happy. It bewilders me that it has taken me so long to come to that conclusion....because, really, what else can I do?
So, there you have it. Today's lesson: don't cry over spilled milk...or...something similarly cliche. Hey, whatever works, right?
Thanks for reading.
If you ever feel like something's missing
Things you'll never understand
Little white shadows
Sparkle and glisten
Part of a system, a plan.
Before I truly begin this post, allow me to divulge a brief anecdote about life when I was five. I remember waking up early one morning before anyone else was out of bed. I crept downstairs, undoubtedly clutching my tiger shark stuffed animal (who needs teddy bears, really?) and appreciating the rare tranquility of the household at 7:00 AM. Rather enjoying my newfound solitude, I pulled a bowl out of the cupboard (a REAL bowl, mind you...not some plastic kiddy bowl) and poured myself some Fruit Loops. Carefully, I added a bit of milk to the bowl and grabbed a spoon from the silverware drawer. I imagine I was quite pleased with myself at that point...but can you feel the impending disaster, ladies and gentlemen? Yes, that's right. As I lifted the bowl from the countertop, I felt it slide away from my fingertips (note: I really don't know how this happened... I have freakishly bad luck with these types of things. Just ask me how I broke my hand...except...don't...because it's an embarrassing story.). Anyway, a veritable explosion of milk, glass, and Fruit Loops shook the entire Hart household that morning... And with the shattering of that bowl came the shattering of my dreams. It was the end of the world. It really was. I stood there, amazed that the residual splatter of the skim milk had not only soaked me from head to toe, but had also managed to coat the entire back wall of our kitchen. And, if that wasn't bad enough, I had broken a BOWL. Back in those days, you didn't break a bowl and live to tell the tale. In fact, people were killed for much less. So, tears brimming in my eyes, I began to blot up the soggy mess with some paper towels, awaiting my inevitable doom. Sure enough, Mom entered the kitchen a few minutes later, and I knew my moment had come. At the very least, I would be flogged with the wooden spoon (did...your parents ever hit you with a wooden spoon...? Mine did...and it hurt. A lot.). But, then, a funny thing happened. Mom knelt down beside me and started helping me clean up the mess. Was this some sort of ploy to catch me off guard...? Did she have the wooden spoon hidden behind her back?! Nope. Turns out breaking a bowl (and spilling a little milk and cereal) wasn't punishable by death after all.
So, I assume by now that you understand my point. No? Well, perhaps that's because I've made it wildly unclear. Really, it's just what I stated in the opening paragraph. Far too often, I worry about the most trivial things. Granted, they seem important at the time--so important that I lose my focus on other much more important things. I just really need to let go of so many problems that have been stressing me out.
More and more, I'm finding that things have a tendency to work themselves out, anyway. Even when something blows up in my face, I usually realize later that it wasn't that bad in the end. Even when I'm certain that nothing could be worse, I tend to look back later and wonder why I was so bothered in the first place. Most of the time, once I finally stop worrying and just forget about my problems, they come to a resolution (note: this does not work well with exams). It's kind of a strange cycle, really.
So, I've decided that I'm going to stop stressing out over things that I can't control, and I'm just going to be happy. It bewilders me that it has taken me so long to come to that conclusion....because, really, what else can I do?
So, there you have it. Today's lesson: don't cry over spilled milk...or...something similarly cliche. Hey, whatever works, right?
Thanks for reading.
If you ever feel like something's missing
Things you'll never understand
Little white shadows
Sparkle and glisten
Part of a system, a plan.
8 comments:
What a great story! It made me experience an onslaught of childhood memories, and it was quite nice. I am glad that you are figuring out the things you have discussed in your last two blog posts. Of course none of us will ever figure out everything, (at least i don't think i will) but every little realization makes every day happier and our lives more manageable.
Hope that you had an excellent Thanksgiving, and see you soon!
:-)
Andrew! I really like this post. A lot.
First of all, the story is wonderful. I just enjoy the way you tell stories, but this one was particularly awesome, because if you think about it, it would be really easy to tell in a boring fashion. BUT you made it dramatic.
Second of all, the message of this post is one I think I needed to hear.
"So, I've decided that I'm going to stop stressing out over things that I can't control, and I'm just going to be happy."
SO GOOD.
I'd like to talk more about it in person :)
p.s. HELLO EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S READING THIS!
Andrew.
I'm wiping tears from my cheeks as I type.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
SO good!
"But, then, a funny thing happened. Mom knelt down beside me and started helping me clean up the mess."
i love this.
it's such a wonderful feeling when THIS kind of thing happens. you're expecting the worst and then...someone shows you the utmost kindness. and you can just breathe a sigh of relief because you realize you're safe. and you realize that you shouldn't have worried so much in the first place.
ps it made me happy imagining a five-year-old you. hehe.
encouraging entry, andrew.
Your stories are so entertaining to read! I remember being a 5-year-old once. I didn't know you then, though.
That's great that you came to this realization. The problem for me is that I make these kinds of realizations and then I just go back to how I was, as if I never made the realization in the first place. Even though it would greatly help me.
I know I shouldn't worry about the little things, but I still do, greatly. Like this assignment that was due like 5 weeks ago, it's really not that big a deal and it's not that hard. I've been worrying myself to death over it for 5 weeks and all it has done is stress me out and make me depressed. All I have to do is start working on it and the worry will go away, and I will look back on it and be like, "What the heck was my problem?" But I can't get myself to see that now, even though I'm saying it.
Andrew! What a beautifully descriptive and significant story. It's so nice to hear about an episode that took place before I met you, and you've written in such a way that I believe I can imagine exactly what this scene looked like!
I also love the attitude you've chosen to adopt. I especially love this bit of one of your sentences...
"...I'm just going to be happy."
There is so much power and resolve in that statement, and I know that it is the result of a battle. So good. (And I'm glad that we got to talk a little about this in person!)
AND, this post left me feeling very encouraged (and even challenged)...so, thank you!
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