Unfortunately, worrying comes easily to me. I worry about catastrophes in my absence (because if I’m there, either I’ll be able to stop them with my yet undiscovered superpowers…or think, “at least we’ll all die together.”). When Tucker was young, the first time I traveled without him, I worried the tree in front of our house would fall on him and Robert.

Nothing was wrong with the tree.

I create silly, ridiculous worries. While I *know* that worrying is a pointless waste of time, it’s hard to not go there. So I’ve created a list of things that are a waste of time to worry about.

Maybe you worry about ridiculous things and this list will help both of us. Or, maybe we’ll both wake up at 3:00 a.m. and worry about our kids, our jobs, sinkholes, falling trees, and our futures. It’s worth a try…

Ten Things Not To Waste Time Worrying About Because They’re Ridiculous and You Can’t Change Them Anyway

10. Sinkholes. My friend recently posted a for-real sinkhole photo on Facebook where you could see a car in it! It happened about five miles from where she lives (the driver got out in time) and her photo proved to all of us that these things happen, for real.

I mean, I wrote about this years ago. Basically, you could be walking out of a store and BOOM!

You’re inside the ground instead of walking on it.

Yikes, right? But it’s dumb to worry about sinkholes because it’s not like worrying will help you avoid them. I mean a sinkhole could open up right under the kitchen table where you’re sitting typing right now. Worrying won’t change that.

9. Aging. I’m always a little shocked by accidental glimpses in shop windows. In addition to seeing I need to stand up straighter, there are wrinkles in new places all over my face!

Also I’m pretty sure my eyes have gotten smaller. Not sure how that happened, but I blame aging.
But worrying about getting old is ridiculous because you can’t change it and as they say, getting old is better than the alternative!

8. Politics. Yes, we should do something about the disgusting state of the world today. We should march, and help those less fortunate, make phone calls and do all of the things. But simply worrying about the buffoon in office? His horrid minions? Not worth the toll on our souls or the extra lines on our faces (those already cause us too much worry – see number 9 above).

7. The future. This is a hard one, I know! But worrying about the future is ridiculous and while you totally should save money for being old and always do right by your kid so he’ll want to visit you, simply worrying over the future is pointless.

6. Lice on toilet paper. I used to worry about this one until Tucker got lice at school. They die on paper. YAY!!! And, you’re welcome (free PSA). 
5. Having fancy stuff. Don’t worry about the name on the tag. Do you, be you. Now that I’m older and wiser, I wish I had the money I spent on things I no longer care about like ridiculously expensive sunglasses. I mean, I still like good sunglasses (wrinkle avoidance and all).

So, treat yourself and all that but stuff is just stuff. Move across the country to see how much your stuff no longer has import. Also it helps to know what does matter to you (my bed matters to me), and what doesn’t (clothes I haven’t worn in years that I think “Somebody would really appreciate having this.”).

4. Health. Yes, of course eat right and exercise and wear sunscreen, but worrying about health outside of what you can control isn’t healthy and may even cause cancer. In fact, worrying about health and other ridiculous things probably causes cancer.

3. It’s impossible to not worry about your kids, but try to trust you’re doing your best. Also? It’s totally ok to groan on the inside when your nine-year-old son wants to try to hypnotize you because he knows how after watching a YouTube video.

Have fun with it and don’t worry about inward groaning. You’re no longer nine years old and it’s okay that what’s fun for you doesn’t always match what’s fun for him.

2. Don’t worry if you think your blog post list is dumb. It’s yours. Your words matter. Our stories matter.

1, finally. This is a Big and Serious one. Not that sinkholes aren’t serious, but this one is for real f’real.

Don’t worry about what other people think of you. Be you. Do you. Act on what drives you because what other people think of you doesn’t matter. I mean, you know, don’t murder or anything, but don’t chase hobbies for the sole reason being because you think mom or the neighbor will approve of them.

Imagine your best you, and be that person.

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post. This week’s listicle prompt is “10 things I worry about…” Our sentence thinker-upper (and general thinker) is Lizzi Lewis of Considerings.  However she’s flaking, oops, I mean is SUPER busy with work and life (no judgement) so we’re using her prompt but aren’t sure whether she’ll join or whether you’ll be able to link up with her.

Link up with my co-host Kenya Johnson at Sporadically Yours or me, here at Finding Ninee.