This article might seem kind of crazy. It might appear as though I’m trying to convince you the reason there’s wind is because the leaves are moving.
As a means of introducing my crazy idea, let me give an example. I often counsel wedding couples who – because of the major life change they’re about to embark on – are anxious about a lot of things.
I say to crazed brides and grooms:
Maybe, just maybe all those things
you have to worry about (what dress Aunt Gladys is gonna wear, who will sit at the table with Jimmy and John) – maybe all those little details, all those things you’re worrying about, are there so you can worry about them instead of worrying about what you’re actually doing.
Not that you’re not excited to marry your love. But maybe, just maybe all those things you’re stressed about are there so you don’t have to really think about the fact that you’re changing your very person. You’re changing who you are. You’re changing the very definition of you.
Maybe all those small things are there so you can be anxious about them, so you don’t have to worry and think about the fact that you’re going to lose your loved one someday. That one of you, almost assuredly, is going to have to watch the other one die.
Maybe all those small concerns are there as a gift, so you have something sensible to be anxious about.
That’s what I tell wedding couples. Now let’s apply this to you, dear reader.
Maybe your To-Do list – all those things you have in front of you to do today, this week, this month, or this year – maybe all those things are a blessing.
Maybe all those things are there so you don’t have to be worried, so you don’t have to think about the deep things that are really stressing you out. Maybe all those issues are there to distract you from worrying about the fragility of life, and the fact that all of us will someday lose everything we love.
In keeping with this thought, here’s some spiritual-religious homework. When you look at your To-Do list, don’t say, “These are the things I have to do.” Maybe say instead, “These are the things I get to do.”
Spiritual-religious advice:
Consider yourself blessed to be stressed out about your to-do list.
With love,
v
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Reflections on Growth, Stress, and Mindfulness
It’s the first Monday of the month. Amazing. First Monday newsletters tend to be a bit more chatty, a bit more rambling. This one is