Thursday 8 February 2018

"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." - Leo Buscaglia

I am a bit of a worrier,but I don't let it stop me doing things. I try to compensate, even illogically, to manage a worry. I worry sometime that eventually the worry will stop me doing something. I'm scared of flying, but I endure it because I love to travel. I worry that the day will come when the fear of flying will become greater than the will to see new places.

I just read Len Deighton's Billion-Dollar Brain and there's an exchange in it, discussing Innocence and Experience. "To an innocent anything in the world is possible...innocence is the knowledge that you can do something and experience is the knowledge that you can't.'
'Experience is a method of endorsing prejudices,' I said.
'No...When did you last call upon your experience? When you doubted your chances of success, that's when.'

I think worry fits in between somewhere. The doubt of success, not necessarily based on actual experience, but perceived results. In Left for Dead Beck's wife Peach organises the 'impossible' rescue, merely because no one told her it couldn't be done. She didn't know it had never been done before, and so she did it.

I don't know how we do it, but I think we'd all be happier with a little more innocence in our world.

Linking with #ParentPower because the world is full of worries at the moment, especially for the 16-25 year old kids, the group data shows are hit hardest by the pandemic. 

 
loopyloulaura


20 comments:

  1. It is such a shame that as we get older we seem to develop more of a fear, I know I am scared of so many things that never bothered me when I was younger but I do try not to worry about things that I have no control over as that is just a waste of my time! #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing your opening quote today, Lydia. I'm committing it to memory. I also agree with you about needing a little more innocence in our world.

    SSG xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. "...innocence is the knowledge that you can do something and experience is the knowledge that you can't." What a powerful quote. I usually see experience in a more positive way (as knowledge, confidence, expertise) but this is also an accurate assessment of experience. It can jade us, colour our thinking and make us less optimistic about the future. Being more self-aware of these less positive tendencies is the first step in facing them and not succumbing to them - thanks for giving me another glimpse into myself.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I totally agree we could all do with a little more innocence and it is true the innocent child for example doesn't worry because they haven't experienced yet. I need to print off your opening quote. Have a great day!
    Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Lydia, for sharing your opening quote. I agree with you about enjoying the present, and that we could benefit from a little more innocence.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is why a child's perspective on life is so wonderful!

    Di from Max The Unicorn

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your Left for Dead analogy reminds me of the bumblebee quote. The fact that anatomically they shouldn't be able to fly. So how come they do? Because nobody told them they couldn't

    (As it turns out science has decided they are anatomically able to fly ... but then that ruins a good story so we'll just disregard that for the purposes of my comment)

    ReplyDelete
  8. The days of innocence have gone forever. It was the Internet, social media and modern communications that killed innocence. But it's nice to still see in children until they discover technology.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So many thoughtful and resonating responses to your post. I agree that I can fight worry if the thing I want to do or experience is more important than the worry about it. It was in early 2017 that I got stuck even though my mind WANTED to do things, it was HELD firmly in fear. That soon vanished when I literally HAD to do what I HAD to do once I found out I had cancer. Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek 7/52. Next week's optional prompt: February Is...

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm just terrible at worrying. Thanks for this and for linking to #kcacols - hope to see you again next time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I look at my boys most days and marvel at their innocence. They have never been told something can't be done or something is scary. They discover things for themselves and try things that I don't. We can learn a lot from children about worry and innocence #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
  12. You sound right up my street. I often declare that I don't have any fears but what I mean is that I try my damndest not to let them prevent me from doing things or hold me back. It's the example I want to set for my son in the hope he'll live the same, although it doesn't seem to work all the time.

    #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
  13. We do indeed need more innocence, and a whole lot of empathy. #globalblogging xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  14. My biggest issue is my fear of driving and yes, it has stopped me going places and doing things in the past but I am determined to get past it. #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I read your post about this, and it’s perfectly understandable. Good for you for trying to get on top of it.

      Delete
  15. Wise words. Kids have such an amazing confidence in themselves because they haven't learnt to doubt themselves yet - we could all do with a bit more of that.

    And congratulations because someone loved this post so much, they added it to the BlogCrush linky! Feel free to collect your "I've been featured" blog badge :) #blogcrush

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have badge issues - the coding corrupts my blog so the picture doesn’t appear and then people can’t comment on the post. I’ve no idea how to fix it but i’ll See what I can do - thanks & flattered

      Delete
  16. I like your quote it is spot on X #parentpower

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have always been a worrier and it’s horrible. It doesn’t stop me doing stuff but I would love to just not worry about it.
    Recently I have been able to calm my worries so I take that as a big improvement. #ParentPower

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think we need to enjoy more of the small moments right now and try not to worry. Children can pick up on little worries so we need to protect them and ourselves. Thansk for linking up with #parentpower

    ReplyDelete