List of things to worry about, not worry and think about

Hi Everyone!

Wow! It has been some month. I have to say that the biggest and most disturbing story of the month has got to be the conviction of Jerry Sandusky. His conviction validates the 12 young men's claims of abuse and also has another chilling effect- it brings to surface a parents unconscious (and sometimes very conscious) fear of their child being abused.

While I personally believe we must be vigilant and closely screen everyone our children come in contact with, we need to look at the bigger picture in terms of being too protective and worrying needlessly. 

Corrie Ten Boom said it perfectly, "Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.".  We need to "pick" our worries wisely.

As I was researching the whole concept of worrying I came across a letter that F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote to his 11-year old daughter. It is wonderful. It is wise. And it is still relevant today, almost 80 years later. In this letter he gave her HIS list of what he believes are valid "worries", what are not and a few things to "think about". Here they are:

Things to Worry About

Worry about courage

Worry about cleanliness

Worry about efficiency

Worry about horsemanship

Things Not to Worry About

Don't worry about popular opinion

Don't worry about dolls

Don't worry about the past

Don't worry about the future

Don't worry about growing up

Don't worry about anyone getting ahead of you

Don't worry about triumph

Don't worry about failure unless it comes through your own fault

Don't worry about mosquitoes or flies

Don't worry about parents

Don't worry about boys

Don't worry about disappointments

Don't worry about pleasures

Don't worry about satisfactions

Things to Think About

What am I really aiming at?

How good am I really in comparison to my contemporaries in regard to: 

(a) Scholarship

(b) Do I really understand about people and am I able to get along with them?

(c) Am I trying to make my body an useful instrument or am I neglecting it?

These are all very valid points, however, I would add two more to the List of Things to Worry About- Dignity and Integrity. Sometimes we, as parents, lose sight of the concept of Dignity and Integrity. SO many other things to worry about, that explaining and living with Dignity and Integrity is just too "hard". The funny thing about that is, when we, as parents lose sight of these we lose the ability to teach our children these concepts. Ultimately our children lose out.

Examine yourself and your behavior closely. Are your actions and thoughts something that you would like children (or anyone else) emulating? Are you teaching your children to behave in a way that is fair, open minded and gracious? Or are you going the "Win at all costs" route? In the spirit of being open minded and fair are you teaching your children to accept differences in the human race or are you promoting the "Different is bad" concept? Have you taken the time to explain what the meaning of Dignity, Integrity and Honesty to all children in your life? 

Dignity. Integrity. Honesty. These ALWAYS win out in the long run. It may not be to yours or anyone else's time line. However, they always win.

Ask Jerry Sandusky.

Thanks for reading! As always eat well, stay healthy and be happy!