This month the thirteenth fell on a Friday. I have a soft spot for those because I got engaged on Friday the thirteenth in September 2013.
Recently I was researching what older people regret. What can I say, this is just the kind of stuff I google on the reg. The answer? Worrying.
I can relate to worriers. I come from a strong line of worrier women (ahem, also warrior women, shout outs ladies!). And often the worries come from a good place – of love and concern and wanting the best outcome for everyone.
Five years ago I was a little worried. I was ready to move forward with my life in a bunch of ways and I wanted all the things at once – to get married, to kill it at work, to be my fittest self, to buy a home, to start a family. Sometimes I worried that none of it was going to happen.
The problem with worries is that they’re just imaginary negative thoughts about the future AKA the unknown. Um. Could anything be more useless?
The last five years have unfolded in ways I never could have predicted, full of ups and downs and blessings and challenges. They’ve been surprising, hilarious, painful, transformative and miraculous.
Newsflash: the worries were wasted energy. All worry is wasted energy!
Back to the old folks. The article specifically said these worriers (/warriors) wished they had thought more short term. Which made me pause.
Because in yoga we’re always saying “be in the present moment”.
I realized that if we just pull those future worries back in time, and if we think short term enough then we land in the present moment.
Worries don’t make sense in the present moment. They’re for the future.
What does make sense in the present moment? Taking actions to align with desired outcomes.
Worrying is bad for us. Let’s stop.
That’s what our elders are telling us. Let’s listen.