I close the book, turn off the lamp, and shut my eyes. It has a been a long day and sleep is what I want most in this moment. One minute in and then two minutes. I am almost there, so close to falling asleep. A stray thought crosses my mind. The gym I am building is behind schedule. I know, I know, but I can’t do anything about it right now. Yet, I still think about it. How soon before it is ready? I try my best to dismiss it and go to sleep. Okay, it is gone, but then…
- I have two blog posts I want to write in the morning,
- I am behind on the fitness course I am taking,
- I have yet to begin round two of the book edits,
- Autumn is coming, there is still a lot to do to prepare for it,
- If I don’t get to sleep soon, my morning workout will suffer,
- What kind of bathroom am I going to install in the new gym? Yes, back to the gym. Like a hamster on a wheel, so turns my mind. Thoughts come; thoughts go. Around and around.
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety. Stress about the future. If I can’t get out of the future and focus on the task at hand (sleep), then I am doomed. Depression is only another few hamster-wheel revolutions away.
The present moment is all I have. I did what I could during the day. That should be enough. I cannot worry about tomorrow. No anxiety, only sleep.
There is a second part to this verse. A good word makes the heart glad. The philosophers of the past that speak to me today through their writings suggest I am on the right path. Friends and family tell me the same thing. I would have cause for worry if I spent my days doing nothing. I don’t, and therefore, most of my anxiety is unwarranted. My heart is glad.
And here is the good word for you, my friend. So long as you stay on the path and do what you know in your heart as the right thing to do, then you have no need of worry. Take each day as is comes and save the future for when it gets here.
TonyFine.blog 