Turn Worry into Wonder
It’s hard to say if I had a favorite patient during my ten years sharing Jin Shin Jyutsu at the Markey Cancer Center here in Lexington, Kentucky. Each was so unique in their own way. All ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. It’s really true when people say their patients are their teachers. Mine were no exception. Sometimes though, I could teach them something that made a difference in their lives, which makes me happy.
Elaina was a wonderful woman, deeply loved by her family. She not only had a large family here in Lexington, but many other family members down in Texas, including her siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Family was everything to Elaine and she lived to cook and nurture them all. Each time she came to see me, her handsome son proudly brought her. It was apparent just how close they were, and he never seemed frustrated by the time he had to spend on her care because she’d given to their family through the years. She was a true Abuela.
Elaine was beginning to fail and wanted to take one last trip to see her Texas family. They began to make plans for the long drive down. Elaine worried about the trip and the stress she was placing on her son to drive her there. This worry became an obsession and for the weeks leading up to the trip she could not get her mind off of it. The time, the money spent, the drive, where they’d eat on the way, her son’s time away from work, the list continued to grow.
During our session a week before she left, Elaine began talking again about her concerns with the trip. Her son had thought of everything, but her worry list was growing. Our conversation turned to Self-Help and I offered her a suggestion. “Why don’t you hold your thumb whenever you start to feel worried and turn Worry into Wonder.” Your concerns could move from “I’m worried about the long drive.” to “I wonder what we’ll see along the way?”. I suggested that when a worry came up, she consider an alternative way to think of it. She said she’d give it a try.
Elaine was in Texas for more than a month. When they returned her son again scheduled an appointment. I was eager to hear about the trip and how it had gone. “I did what you said and it worked!” was the first sentence spoken with a big smile. “I turned all my worries into wonder the entire time we drove, when we were there and on our way back. I had the most wonderful time because I could really enjoy myself. Changing Worry to Wonder became a game for all of us!” She gave me a big hug and lay down on the table smiling.
I love the finger holds. They’re so simple. Holding your thumb can really help if you’re a worrier. You can change your constant worrying too. You’ll feel it lessen and hopefully, change to a feeling of wonder in your own world.