Don't Worry, Be Happy; and Let Nothing Steal Your Joy!

My friends and I were talking a little while ago, and someone mentioned that old song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." That song, although it was a little corny, had a very powerful message that we could all stand to be reminded of from time to time. When I was younger, and didn't know better, I could have won a medal for being the world's most worried person. Not only did I worry about my problems, but everyone else's. If someone I met at the bus stop shared their problems with me, their story would cross my mind again and again all during the day. I had it bad! I once went down to 65 pounds by worrying. Sure, I had things that required me to be concerned about, like my father dying from lung cancer; my mother's Alzheimer's was becoming more and more apparent; four of my children were running back and forth from their father's house 100 miles away from mine; two of my children were 3 and 4, not yet in school; their father was an abusive alcoholic who was having an affair with a woman who lived on the floor below our 15th floor apartment. I was a mess!! I would shortly be 40 years old, but looked and felt older than I am today. In addition, I was working full time. All of this I was internalizing; swallowing worry rather than food. Drinking juice for nourishment; barely enough to stay alive...and one day it all came crashing down on me. My doctor left me in the emergency room alone, for nine hours, and told me to find someone to talk to. There was no one. We are told that all we need is to "have faith the size of a mustard seed." That was all I had, so I began to pray. I would be lying if I said I don't worry anymore; I think we all do, but now, by the grace of God, I try to be happy despite my situation and circumstances. I have learned that worrying does not help, but being happy does. My advice to anyone would be, "Don't Worry, Be Happy; and Let Nothing Steal Your Joy."

Tags: happiness, joy, worry

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Comment by Paris E. Tompkins on September 30, 2008 at 7:19pm: Dear Vickie,
Your mother was a very strong woman, stronger than I. You should be proud of her for staying until all her children were grown. I guess I was not as strong as I should have been, but my heart was broken when I was so young and didn't know who I was. Nor did I have ahold of God's hand as I have now. God has brought me from a mighty long way, but I believe He allowed me to experience those things so that I could help others, if I chose to share my stories. Every experience is a testimony once we see the benefit of it. I thank God that I did not lose my mind, although my slide into the depths of hell did not end with the episode with my ex-husband. About six years later I wound up in a child abuse case with the father of my two youngest sons. I won't take your time telling that story, but suffice it to say, it took me 3 years to fight and win my children back, and to completely change my attitude about life and how to live it. As the song says, "I am stronger, wiser, and so much better." Thank you for your friendship, Vickie, it means a lot to me. Paris.

Comment by Paris E. Tompkins on September 28, 2008 at 4:01pm: Thank you, Denise, for your comment.

Comment by Denise Lize on September 28, 2008 at 10:57am: Yeah, I do remember that song, It's a device and we should cherish It, because It makes us happy and stronger people.Just like..too Blessed to be Stressed.We all know It, but get caught up in worrying sometimes...too bad.

Thanks a lot for sharing my dear sister.
Blessings,
Denise