Day 1368

Charlie (top) and Hank had their first veterinary appointment today! We carried them in, amidst every staff member sharing some love, and they were absolute angels. No fear, no show of nerves…only wagging tails and incredible cuteness. They had nothing to fear.

All of us have our own “Rolodex of fears.” There are universal anxieties that can impact our lives. Beyond those, we harbor our own personal fears within. They tend to rear their ugly heads without warning and alter our lives in the moment or for a lasting nightmare. Often based on bad memories, they take on a life of their own without merit and beyond reason.

Because of past experiences and stories I have logged away, I can visualize the very worst scenario imaginable. Perhaps the thoughts offer a protective boundary around my life, but that should be where their power ends. However, they infiltrate my mind and create worries that are unfounded. My dear college roommate would remind me that “all that time worrying could be used in a positive direction…after all, what productivity ever came from worrying?” Her wisdom made sense, yet I still embraced worry.

My goal, when fear and worries slide into my thoughts, is to ask myself, “Why not shut the worst case scenario out and visualize the best case scenario?” That way, my time is not wasted on worries that will probably never come to fruition and I can embrace positive plans and ideas. I am a work in progress, but the wrinkles in my forehead are not as pronounced!