In some Native American cultures, you are not allowed to bring your worries into another person’s household. You are not allowed to bring negativity to the hearthstone of someone else. It is deemed improper.
Because of this belief, many of the homes have a little “worry basket” outside. Before you set foot in the home, you lay your worries to rest in that worry basket.
My guess is that you don’t remember to pick them up on your way home.
We live in very worrisome times. Money is short. The world seems to be falling apart in one way or another every day. The future is uncertain. But I realized, in thinking about the concept of the worry basket, that we really don’t take time to express our fears and our worries. We let them simmer inside our heads and our hearts. We let them flavor our perspective on the world and our relationships with other people. We let them hold us back.
Given that, it’s not so surprising that we don’t go out of our way to ask other people what is on their minds. When was the last time you asked someone, “What are you worried about? What’s on your mind?”
I can’t recall starting that conversation with anyone but my own brain.
Kind of silly, isn’t it? Because as we all know, dropping our worries – verbalizing them, sharing them, dealing with them – that’s the best way to get rid of that load.
So, I’m taking the time to ask. What are you worried about? What is on your mind? You don’t have to comment here. You don’t have to answer out loud. But however you respond, don’t keep it locked up in your brain. Write a post and then delete it. Write a post of your own if you like. Write an email to a friend or a pastor or a family member.
Whatever you do, let those worries go.
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fkehren/6098824622/ via Creative Commons
Well, tomorrow I have to go to Court. I am facing eviction, and learn my fate tomorrow. I even blogged about my situation. I wrote a post called “Can’t Pay My Rent” that actually got a lot of views, and well wishes, but not much else.
I am going on a job interview for a job that will be a very long commute because I need to find some kind of consistent work. I have to leave this town, and move to one that has higher crime because the rents are too high here. All I can really do is keep my head up, and move along as best I can and try to not get too down on myself.
That is what is going into the basket for me
@NancyD68 we’re gonna fix this.
@NancyD68 hope you got that job and I wish you the best. Let me know what happened with your move.
I really like this post Margie because I really like this idea! Maybe I’m odd here, but I do ask people what’s on their minds and ask because I genuinely want to know. Maybe I should clarify this better by saying that I can “sense” this more, which then leads me to ask this question or inquire. It’s an odd sort of blessing or curse, whichever way you choose to think about it (for me a blessing). To verbalize absolutely helps I agree. Sometimes just writing it out and reading over a few (thousand ;)) times is all you need to do too.
Good reminder, good post – thank you!!
Much kindness,
Elena
@WGB2U That’s true – i do tend to get a vibe from people that inspires me to check on them from time to time. But sometimes people are really really really good at masquerading, and asking, just checking, for no apparent reason – sometimes it can open the dam of their concerns. You just never know.
People rarely, blokes never, ask about other people’s worries. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to do more often.
@Charlotte74 well said!
omg I love this! Can I place a BS basket outside my door, too?? 😉
@Ali Mac yeah, you could probably rack up a lot of baskets at that rate 😀 Nice thought!
@margieclayman I agree, especially around the holidays!! 😉
Very positive post! Thank you for sharing this… I think I should start leaving my worries behind.
@LauLau81 Thank you, and I’m glad you liked it!