My last blog post was in May. May! Many months ago now. Shame-faced I returned to the WordPress log in screen and after several failed attempts had to accept that I no longer remembered my password to my own website. It’s been that long.
There are lots of reasons (excuses) for this tumble weed silence but perhaps the most prominent is worry. Some of it mine and some of it belonging to others. Our son started school this September. A joyful and exciting experience which was foreshadowed by sleepless nights and a wealth of worry as his four year old brain processed this step.
Of course, sleepless nights for children often mean sleepless nights for parents too and after a summer of sleeplessness the idea of being creative dwindled.
Or if not the idea (as the ideas kept coming to my sleep deprived brain) then certainly the ability to process and channel that idea into a creative output. Mostly I just ate toast.
And perhaps I let my own worries creep in too. I’ve been writing with the intention of being published for two years now – what if I’m just not good enough? What if I’m so worried about trying to get published I’m not making the time to sit down with new ideas? What if this whole pursuit is actually a bit embarrassing and I should just slink away now and pretend it was never something I wanted that much after all.
We talked to our son a lot this summer. We are a house which likes to talk. He knew he was nervous about school – he could tell us that it was the unknown that was the scariest part. I hear you buddy, I really do. Not knowing what will happen is scary. It’s scary sending your writing off into the world of experts and not knowing what (if anything) might come back.
With his best friend holding his hand our little one went into his new classroom for the first time a few weeks ago and bounced out three hours later with exclamations of “the best day ever”.
8 weeks of sleepless nights just melted away with a reminder that the worry is often the hardest bit. With that in mind, here’s a poem I’ve been working on. It’s time to put down the marmite toast and get working again.
Never Worry a Worry
Never worry a worry,
Or let a worry worry you.
For if a worry worries
then a worry can come true.
It’ll hide around a corner,
Sneak behind you on a walk,
It’ll creep and lurk and whisper,
’till ideas start to talk.
‘Oh dear, oh no, oh never!’
Will consume your every thought,
‘I really can’t. I won’t. I don’t,’
Will be just the very sort –
of things your brain will dwell on,
And stop you living life.
For a worried worry worries,
causing every kind of strife.
So if you feel a worry,
Bubbling away,
Don’t let your worry worry,
Embrace it for a day.
A worry’s just a thought,
That got lost along it’s lane.
So hug it, love it, talk to it,
And listen just the same.
For a worried worry worries
Because it’s all alone.
But a worry that is shared
Can change it’s worried tone.
If you have a worry,
Don’t keep it locked away.
Show your worry you will help it,
To stand and face the day.
Charlie Bown 
You are amazing. If you don’t try , you certainly won’t succeed. So keep going.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear every word of this, Charlie. And as you know, I’m a worrier too. I’ve printed your poem and stuck in on the pin board above my laptop ready to reread next time I have a worry. X
LikeLiked by 1 person