I’ve realized something about myself. I worry. As in, a lot.

I don’t know where this came from. I think of myself to be a rather calm, collected, easy going human being. I go with the flow. How is it I became a worrier?

It’s getting to be ridiculous. I worry about not getting a job. I’m worried that if I don’t get a job soon, I’ll turn into one of those stay-at-home losers who leech money from their parents and are useless all their life. Then when I start to get close to what seems like a job, I worry that the hours will be horrible and I won’t have a social life anymore – no wise cracks, please.  I worry that my novel is junk. The plot is cliche. Or my voice is boring.

The thing about worry, though, is it’s pointless!

Can any of you by worrying add a single day to your life? I read that today by mistake. but it makes absolute sense. Worry does nothing but make you miserable. And give you gray hairs.

So get rid of it. Cast it on God, or however you lose it. You don’t need it.

I won’t get preachy on you. This is just true no matter your walk in life.

I have a card on my wall that says. . . . Well I can’t read it from here. Hold on, I’ll get it . . . . It says, “The most unfortunate thing that happens to a person who fears failure is that he limits himself by becoming afraid to try anything new.” GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE.

Worry can limit you. Don’t let it limit you. The worst that can happen is you utterly fail. But then you can laugh and write a funny story about it afterwards and it’ll be great.

This really is a reminder to me. Stop being afraid of your novel’s characters, Rebekah. Of course they’ll never have a personality – good or bad – if you never give them one. Stop being afraid you’ll never be published. Your fears might come true if you never sit down and write. And stop acting like that little spider on the wall is suddenly going to swell up, big and hairy, and eat you alive. (Ha, okay. THAT might actually happen. .)

Anyway. I think we all need to be reminded about this every now and then. Worry is gray hair and frown lines and wasted time. We just need to sit back and enjoy the now. Let tomorrow worry about itself.