Complex Numbers

Out Of Control

What, me worry?

PROMPT September 21st

One thing outside of my control that I need to stop worrying about is...

I'm... not really the worrying type.

As the prompt suggests, there are things in my control and things that aren't. If a situation is, at least in part, in my control, then I tend to do something about it. If it's not, then I figure out a way to deal with it -- usually by imagining the worst possible outcome, mentally preparing for that, and then being relieved when it turns out to be not as bad as I expected.

Of course, like everyone else, I have certain concerns. No point worrying about them, though. It's a waste of brain power, when that brain power could be used to play video games or get distracted with booze.

I'm sure there are a lot of things on everyone's mind right now: pandemic, economic struggles, upcoming election in the US, social issues, the impending end of Western civilization, and all the other joy that 2020 has brought us. Hell, I was just reading where archaeologists found a bunch of sarcophagi   in Egypt. I mean, I'm a rational guy, but unearthing cursed mummies in 2020 sounds like a Really Bad Idea, and these archaeologists probably should have watched more horror movies before proceeding.

Point is, there's not a damn thing I can do, and if there were, I'd be doing it instead of turning it over and over in my mind. It's not like I can fly to Egypt and ask the archaeologists what the hell they were thinking, and even if I could, it wouldn't do any good.

In case it's not obvious, I'm joking about the mummy curse thing; it's a worn-out horror trope, which makes it ripe for comedy. Jokes are what keep me from worrying. I haven't found many situations yet that I couldn't joke about. Hell, I was getting treated for a heart attack, watching my ticker beat on the screen, millimeters away from possible death, and all I could say was, "Huh... it's not made of stone after all."

If you can't control the situation -- and much of the time, you can't -- you can control your response to it. I recognize that worry is one of those emotions that's really hard to address, but just because I can't control something doesn't mean I'm going to let it control me.

Usually, though, it's not about control, but about just letting go. I don't accept that everything's in some higher being's hands, or has a purpose. Also, there's no telling what the future will bring; could a situation come up where I do start to worry? It's possible. It's just not happening right now, and I'm certainly not going to worry about getting worried.