Let me tell you about today.  My husband had an appointment at the same time we usually go grocery shopping together. (Have I ever mentioned that our lives are somewhat structured?) It meant I would be shopping on my own at a later time when the store is potentially busier. Plus, I needed to buy more, since it is the week when we host our family get-together. I was stressing about the time change and I was stressing about having to do it all alone and I was stressing about whether my husband would be okay at home without me. I was so wrapped up in worry I wasn’t able to be here for my husband. I was so busy thinking about what was to come, I couldn’t experience what was happening now. 

It’s called anticipatory anxiety and I have written about it before, but felt it might be time to revisit the topic. I’m sure you’ve al heard the saying, “don’t borrow worries from tomorrow.” I need to consider that I shouldn’t even borrow from later today. My worry only interferes with my life in the moment, it doesn’t help me deal with anything that is coming later. I can’t control things that might happen even in 10 minutes, I can only do my best to be present and respond to what I am facing now.

I know that our future has a lot of uncertainty, and I could easily spend everyday trapped in worry. Instead, I will shake it off and remember that I have enough to care for on my plate right now. I’ll face those new challenges when they arrive, and I won’t waste my energy worrying about them in the meantime. By the way, I went to the grocery store and it all went okay. It took me a little longer to bag my groceries but the people around were patient and gracious. My husband was fine at home, he had been napping and remembered to take his meds. All that worry and stress was for absolutely nothing.