DONT WORRY!!! BE HAPPY!!!

My cute cuz got me thinking about worrying. She has good cause to worry right now. Her family lost their home in hurricane Katrina 3 years ago. And now Gustov is headed their way this morning!! This is cause for worry indeed. But in the next breath she admits that there is no real need to have great concern. She knows her family will be fine. They are smart, and well prepared for emergencies, and are very level headed. Worry just seems like a natural thing to do!!
Im not sure how we come by our tendency's to be a worrier? But I am grateful that I seem worry deprived. Im not sure why this is.
One thing is sure, I didnt have worrying modeled to me by my parents. Growing up under their roof didnt teach me how to worry. (thats a good thing)
Other things I've learned about worrying:
*I 'get' that there is no point in running any faster than I have strength for. (theres a scripture about this isnt there?)I know when to say "WHEN"
*I also have a grateful heart. I count my blessing. I have so many of them!! Im grateful for what I already have.
*Ive learned patience.
*I dont throw myself indiscriminately into 'causes' and committees. I do know how to say no, and Im not afraid to use it!!
*I feed my spirit. I try not to empty my cup any more than Im attempting to fill it back up. Which means that I let myself do things for me. I guess I appear selfish at times. I take classes that interest me. I take care of my physical bod. I hike and hike some more. Im making an attempt to learn about make-up and taking care of my physical appearance. My Builder takes me on dates. I take time for myself. I have some alone time,some quiet time. I write, I read, I meditate, I sleep. (I realize that this is a foreign idea for my mom and her generation. They were raised so differently. I know my mom has a hard time with this one.)
*I dont dwell on my problems. Instead, Im back to counting my blessing.
*I dont make many demands on this world. I dont ask for much. I dont want it all. As a young mom I used to have a motto that went something like this: If you dont expect much, then you're not likely to be disappointed. (I realize that this is a bit fatalistic, but at the time it was true!! If all I had were lists, and lists and list of wants, one cant help but become unhappy. )
*I do need to work on letting go of envy. I struggle with this. I can and do compare myself with others. This leads to discouragement and worry and unhappiness.
*My testimony of my Savior also curbs my worry and causes me great happiness and brings perspective to my life. I know the He knows me and that He cares about me, and those I love. I gain such strength in this knowledge.
*With this knowledge of a bigger, better plan, comes a resolve to be comfortable with the idea that yes indeed there will be opposition in all things. ALL things. When I get sick, oh how much more I appreciate my health. When my kids were mis-behaving, oh what angels they could be. Opposition stinks sometimes; almost ALL the time!!
*I have also learned that I cant do it all-right now. I know that there is a time and place for all things. "To every thing there is a season." I can say now, that Im very happy right here where I am. I try very hard to have no regrets. Im enjoying the moment. I know how VERY fast these moments fly by. I try not to be caught wishing things away. There is no reason to 'rush' our seasons.
*I dont stress a mess. I fully embrace the motto: Better to be happy and messy than clean and mean."
*I've learned to not judge. I dont WANT to be a judge of anybody. Thats not a job for me!! Why would I want to add somebody elses worries and trouble to my own?!?!?

What I KNOW for Sure!!!
I am so, so far from perfect. This troubles my heart. My list of faults is a long one. But....I also realize that I dont have to be perfect instantly. Nor do I have to be perfect in everything!! I know that this is why my Savior came to earth. To help me. Little 'ol me. He knows my aspirations. He knows my mind and heart. He can help me make up the huge gap between imperfection and perfection.
There are a LOT of "I's" in this post. THats a little strange for me. But it was fun to introspect about what it is that makes a worrier vs. NOT!! Im going to keep trying to do better. But Im not going to WORRY, Im going to be HAPPY and GRATEFUL instead.


image from flickr