I complimented a fellow teacher, a young, slim beautiful girl, on her blouse.
She gave me one of those "oh this old thing" comments and said she'd worn it because all her other tops were . . . and here she made some hand gestures around her belly.
I didn't understand at first. I thought maybe she was pregnant, or else feeling nauseous. But no.
She told me she was getting so fat. Told me! Not that I'm FAT fat, but compared to her I'm a mature tree and she's a sapling. I've got some rings on my trunk.
She left and Dave, another colleague, walked by. "She thinks she's fat!" I said shaking my head, although many of my friends felt that way when we were her age. We see pictures of our younger selves and ask, "Why did I think I was fat then? I looked good."
Dave and I got talking about our perceptions of ourselves and how much energy we waste obsessing over minor issues, energy that could be better spent in more productive ways.
"We should just be happy we're healthy," he said.
"Yeah, and not in Burma," I added. Extra padding around the middle pales in comparison to the hardships faced there.
Then he said, "Monday, I was out in the yard when the wind whipped up. My irises were bending and about to snap, so I hustled to stake 'em up tight. And then I thought of all the people in the Midwest whose homes were devastated by the tornadoes. I thought, here I am worrying about a few irises when they've lost everything."
"Iris syndrome," I said. "I'll remember your story next time I start worrying about nothing."
So much of what I worry about amounts to "a few irises."
~~~~~
Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey!~Barbara Hoffman
Comments
So so so much truth in these words, and how we see ourselves, and how unimportant many of the things we waste precious thinking and worrying about.
Again, thank you for give me a reality check!! I'm going to read it one more time before I click out!!
LOL:) Wanda
Love the lighting on the iris. Beautiful photo Ruth.
What can you do about the horrors all over the world? Maybe give money to some charity, and that is surely worthwhile, but there's a limit to how much you can give. Vote every chance you get for someone you think might improve the plight of the people in our towns, states, and country. Your children, your friends, people you care about--help them if you can.
But worrying about your irises is your job; nobody else will do it for you. One of the great philosophers of all time left a note for all of us about what we should do: "Cultivate your garden!" Figure out just what your garden is first, but your irises add beauty to the world, which we can all enjoy. They are worth worrying about. Me, I'm worrying about my cosmos and marigolds and mandevilla and the rest of the stuff in pots I can see though my glass door.
Summer is a-coming in--Loudly sing cuckoo! Groweth seed and bloweth mead and springs the wood anew--Sing cuckoo!
Thank you.
And, as for the irises - good thought. Yes, if our irises are at risk and we can do something to protect them, we should. And, yes, the greater gift from noticing a correspondence between our experience and that of others, is the perspective it gives us.
For instance, I hate cleaning the bathroom, but the job becomes less onerous if I reflect on how lucky I am to have a bathroom, have a bathroom to myself, have working plumbing, etc. Then, the task becomes a joy.
Anyway, thanks for helping us to refocus.
Alice
"What? Me Worry!"
Iris's need loving too. Stake 'em if you've got 'em.
Captured and held my attention because of the human element.
You've coined the phrase 'Iris Syndrome' that will stay with me. A beautiful and gentle reminder of where our priorities should lie.
Thank you.