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I am a world-class worrier. Ultimate Sportsfan, my fiancé, even chides me for worrying about things that haven’t yet happened. But, come on, don’t we all?
Or maybe you’ve figured out the secret to a worry-free life. If so, please share!
In the meantime, here are my top ten worries:
1. I’ll make a huge email mistake.
Like I’ll bad-mouth someone and accidentally send it to that person. Or I’ll write something embarrassing and send it to everyone instead of just the intended recipient. I recently read Kristin Gore’s Sammy’s Hill. There’s a scene where Sammy sends an embarrassing email to a huge list of DC insiders (something about a video camera and whipped cream), and I just didn’t think it was funny. It could happen to any of us — the email snafu, not the whipped cream (though the whipped cram might be nice).
2. I’ll run out of gas and not be able to get any.
I think I still have post-traumatic stress from hurricane Rita. When it approached Houston, the stores were out of everything, and no one had gas. It still haunts me.
3. I’ll be driving and get stuck in traffic and have to go to the bathroom.
This has happened to me more than once. The first time was after it rained really hard. If it rains for more than 10 minutes in Houston, streets flood. I got stuck in a traffic jam after just such a rain, and I ended up having to jump out of my car and pee behind a bush on the side of the road. It was so humiliating! Recently, I got stuck behind a crime scene investigation (a guy had kidnapped his girlfriend and her kid and then got in a wreck on the freeway—it was on the news). I had to go again! Luckily, the jam cleared just in time (no bushes on the freeway).
4. Money
We all worry about this.
5. Getting another contract
I think most writers worry about this, too. No matter how well things seem to be going, we never feel secure.
6. Insomnia.
I worry about getting insomnia. How horrible would it be if I was tired and couldn’t sleep? Of course, all these worries don’t make avoiding insomnia very easy.
7. Tripping on My way Down the Aisle or Crying so Much the Vows Can’t be Understood
I’m getting married in 15 days. I worry.
8. Not selling the house
We just put our house up for sale. Both USF and I worry about it selling soon.
9. Having kids and not liking them
I know everyone says it’s different when you have your own, but what if it’s not? You’re stuck for 18 years. Wait…you’re stuck for like 30 years!
Lastly…
10. I worry about Trying and Failing.
There are so many things I want to do. What if I try and I fail? What if I thought I could do something (like write a book), and then it turns out I’m not as good as it as I thought? But what if I don’t try? Then I’ve already failed. I know it’s crazy, but I worry…
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Feb 24th
2006
10:45 am
Connie Brockway Said:
I’m wandering cyberspace, find your blog, and am immediately struck by Fret Number Nine. I laughed out loud, Shana! More people should consider this before deciding they “need” a baby. Do you NEED a second mortage on the house when the baby choose to go to to a private out state college? Thanks for the laugh!
Connie Brockway
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Feb 24th
2006
10:55 am
Krystal Said:
I think the core problem with our worries is the idea of the unknown. We silly humans tend to fear the uncertain…its because we think we know ourselves and our lives so well…and if only we could plan and be prepared for everything that life throws our way…well, there would never be a single worry in the world! (and wouldnt that be nice)
Anyway,
Im just an ordinary person with very simple and ordinary beliefs, but one thing I believe always holds true…9 out of the ten things in life that happen, you can’t control…so take each day in stride…and dont worry about what “may happen” worry about what is happening right now…an old saying in my family is “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it!” and until then live life, enjoy you, enjoy your family…and the stuff we have no control over (i.e. the things we worry about) in most cases will find a way to take care of themselves.
Take care,
Krystal
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Feb 24th
2006
11:10 am
RobynDeHart Said:
Too funny, Shane. I’m a big worrier too. I think it’s hereditary because my mom is world class at it. As for the wedding – I worried about both of those. I didn’t fall, but I did cry – the WHOLE time! I was fine all day and then right before I walked down the aisle, they started, like a waterfall and I couldn’t turn them off. It was annoying. But everyone there thought it was charming and thank goodness for waterproof mascara. I still have the handkerchief my father gave me at the alter. 15 days. Woo-hoo – just keep your eye on that honeymoon.
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Feb 24th
2006
12:23 pm
Jennifer Yates Said:
I am a big worrier too! I especially worry about numbers 4 and 10 on your list! I have grown hearing from my family and others, “You worry too much.” Hmm…is that the case or do they just not worry enough? LOL.
I found this quote a few years ago that really summed it up for me:
“That’s the secret to life… replace one worry with another….”
- Charles M. Schulz
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Feb 24th
2006
1:35 pm
Shana Said:
“is that the case or do they just not worry enough?”
Love it, Jennifer! See that’s the way I look at it, too!
Shana,
who just finished a detailed 3-page list of things to remember to bring and do on the wedding day
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Feb 24th
2006
3:53 pm
Hattie Ratliff Said:
I read everyone post every day and never jumped in but today my name was used. World class worrier, am I. I’m Robyn’s mother and thought I could share a little insight on this subject, because I hate to admit it but Robyn is right. Someone in the family has to hold that title so why not me. Shana as for as lack of sleep, I don’t think I’ve slept in years I think it’s overrated. The worries about your wedding day, if I’m not mistaken the goal at the end of the day is to be married, so regardless if you cry or laugh your way down the isle you will still be the most beautiful bride to everyone there and at the end of the day you will be married.
Thanks for listen, and if I might say one more thing, did I mention I’m so very proud of my daughter?
Hattie
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Feb 24th
2006
5:22 pm
Kimberly Logan Said:
Oh, it’s definitely hereditary! My mom is a Class A worrier. Thank goodness it seems to have skipped me and gone straight to my sister. She worries about everything and has ever since we were little. I probably could be quite the worrier if I let myself dwell on things too much. It’s too easy to make yourself crazy.
Shane, number three made me laugh. Although, I have to admit it’s not wetting myself that I worry about. Did you ever see the movie Two Weeks Notice with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant? If you have, then you know what I’m talking about. Yipes!
So glad that you posted, Hattie! And may I say that you have every right to be proud of your daughter? She’s a wonderful person.
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Feb 24th
2006
5:47 pm
Shana Said:
Hey, Hattie! So glad you piped up! We’re proud of your daughter, too. Only 3 more days until her book comes out!
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Feb 24th
2006
6:44 pm
Rose B Said:
I am not a worrier. If I were, I would not be where I am today. I only worry about things I can do something about. I leave the worrying to my eldest daughter, she is a pro at it. She one time almost didn’t take a wonderful job which was about 25 miles from home. She called me up and asked “Mom, what if it snows really hard in the winter and I can’t get to work?” We lived in Michigan, of course it was going to snow a lot. “Dearest,” I told her, “you call them and tell them you are snowed in!”
I guess my point is, with each one of these worries, I would loook at them and think of the worst thing that could happen. Then I tell myself, what would I do? Most of the time I never have to implement any of my plans.
This is getting long, but I do have to comment on #1. I learned a long time ago (the hard way) not to ever put anything in writing that I wouldn’t want seen on the 6 o’clock news. Ever.
Congratulations on your wedding, no matter how it turns out, as Hattie says, you’ll still be married at the end of the day. And if something should not go as planned, think of it as a wonderful story to tell your grandchildren!
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Feb 24th
2006
7:06 pm
Lacey Kaye Said:
When I was a child, I was terrified someone would break into our house or set it on fire. The fire thing was just weird but we lived in a very bad neighborhood and people broke into houses all the time. In fact, we had been robbed twice before I turned 10.
The search-light helicopters circled frequently through our neighborhood. Eventually, I had problems sleeping at night. Finally, my dad sat me down and explained why he didn’t worry about our house getting destroyed. Sure, he knew it was possible. But what could he do about it? Nothing. What could I do about it? Nothing.
Not too many years later I found out just how right my dad was. While I was worrying every night that someone would enter our house and take our things, Hurricane Andrew was growing and spinning in the Atlantic. My father (and my family) lost almost everything except the four walls of the house. And you know what? We’re ok. We survived losing all of our things. We survived having our house cave in. We survived an incredibly emotional experience and we’re none the worse for wear. We’re stronger, even, than we were before because we have power over our fears.
My parents’ house is still not fully recovered from that hurricane 12 years ago (I feel terribly for the Katrina victims, who for the most part have been forgotten after a mere 6 months) but I learned a lesson I will take with me always:
Don’t worry about things over which you have no control. Because you never know when something waaaaaaaay worse is going to make you feel like an idiot for your lack of imagination
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