Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.
– George Washington
George Washington, American general and First President of the United States, a Virginian of course, was born on this day in 1732 (died 1799).
It’s easy to say “don’t worry.”
Scripture tell us not to worry.
Songs tell us not to worry.
Wise men and women tell us not to worry.
So why do we worry?
I don’t know about you but I get it genetically. That’s another post.
I took a quick trip to Atlanta over the weekend to take some furniture and belongings to my oldest son who lives there.
In full disclosure, I worried a bit about the trip. It didn’t come at the best time financially. In fact, I was supposed to go two weekends ago, but instead bought a new tire for my wife’s car and a new alternator for the truck.
So, of course I worried about the truck. It’s twelve years old and has over 200,000 miles on it. Don’t get me wrong it’s been an excellent vehicle. It’s just no longer well fit for such trips. But it made it.
And, speaking of the alternator and other things, I worried about the cost of the trip.
Still, I made it. It was a good, if quick, trip. And it was a good, if quicker, visit with my son.
I also had the chance to check in with a college friend.
On this side of the trip the worry seems a bit silly. A bit.
Don’t get me wrong. I still “need” a new vehicle, and I still “need” a better cash flow, even if I don’t have any extended road trips coming up again.
But worrying about them won’t do me any good.
A lot of times we worry about the worst thing happening, and then it never does. We’ve only wasted time and energy that we could have directed elsewhere.
I have not mastered the “don’t worry” part. I just know that it’s not helpful to waste the time and energy worrying.
It’s pretty easy for me to sit here and tell you not to worry.
It’s not easy to actually apply that.
In fact, we have to be careful to not worry about not worrying.
Instead, let’s listen to some Chopin.
Frédéric Chopin, Polish pianist and composer was born on this day in 1810. (d. 1849)
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