My worry list seems to be growing exponentially lately. Besides the normal stuff—kids, my mom, bills, gas prices, my business, my husband’s business, wars, my old dog who’s becoming blind and deaf —every day new things come along to worry me. Bam! It’s like I am under a deep snowdrift, flailing around, trying to get to the surface, trying to breathe.

That’s one of the reasons I love to travel. Somehow when I take off on a plane or hop in the car and head out of town, my worries stay behind. It’s like there’s a magic switch that shuts off when I hit the road. Of course, while I’m gone, the occasional worrying thought creeps into my mind, but it leaves just as quickly, replaced instead by a new experience or impression. In other words, travel always enables me to live so much more in the moment.

Unfortunately, as soon as my plane touches down or I take the familiar exit off the interstate toward home, the worries return. I sit in my office, trying to work, and these pesky creatures swarm around me, shouting, “Worry about me!” “No, me! I matter more.” “It’s my turn. Worry about me now!”

“Form a line,” I say. “One at a time, please.” I try to worry in an orderly fashion. Sometimes it works. Other times like the middle of the night, I will become fixated on something and lie awake for hours, turning this issue over and over in my mind, growing angry, then bitter, then self-recriminating, then totally irritated at myself at not being able to let things go. Those sleepless nights are the worst.

OK, I admit it. I am a control freak. I’d really like it if everything in my life would go just the way I want it to. It rarely does, however. I’m beginning to think it’s because I spend too much time complaining and not enough time doing something about what’s bugging me. Yes, some of the things I worry about, I can control. My business, for example. Instead of being bummed out about ad sales going down, I need to find positive, pro-active ways to generate new leads and reach out to different business sectors. Yep, taking action steps is what I need to do.

I wrote last month about the teacher appearing when the student is ready. This month’s issue of TW contains gems of advice from many teachers, advice that might just lead us toward a better future. For example, Debi Wacker shares how writing can be used as a tool to jumpstart creativity as well as resolve troubling issues. Hmmm. I think I’ll try writing the next time the worry warriors invade my office.

I also like Lee Milteer’s recipe for a great life. One tip about letting go of worrisome thoughts really resonated with me. Lee suggests framing every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

Wow. Instantly, I can prioritize the things in my life that deserve my attention, the things that matter most. Try it yourself, and send those worry warriors packing!

Love,

Peggy

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P.P.S. Pick up the June issue of Virginia Living, which hits the streets this month, for my interview with Virginia Beach developer Bruce Thompson.