“I decided to create
a worry list.
Everything on this list,
I am permitted to worry about,
and anything that does not fall into what is approved for this list
I choose to surrender.
The one rule for the list is as follows:
What is completely within my control to change
or act upon in the present moment,
I will let myself worry about briefly,
for the purpose of stress
is to inspire me to take action,
and all else, I will not and will release,
giving it to the Universe, or to God.
I will not let myself worry in advance,
or remain concerned with what was or what will be,
for all I have is today,
as tomorrow is never guaranteed
and I trust the future version of myself
to handle the problems of tomorrow
just as the past version of me
handled the problems of yesterday.
And I accept that I will make mistakes,
and at times, act in ways that I am not proud of,
but I know within my heart
that I am always dedicated
to becoming a better version of myself each day
than I was yesterday
and to learning from my past.
And I forgive myself
for who I once was,
knowing that I can only ever take action in each moment
based on the knowledge and awareness that I presently have
and so no matter how much I may wish to change my past,
it could not have been anything other than what it was.
And the number of worries on the list
is so small
that I can barely count them on one hand,
compared to my list of the blessings in my life,
which are too numerous for me to count.”
Words by Tahlia Hunter
Artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein
My photo of Short Eared Owl - ceekbee