–“It’s like the weight of the world is attackin’ me so slowly…”—Thought of You, Blind Meece
–“A responsible warrior is not someone who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, but someone who has learned to deal with the challenges of the moment.”—The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
–“Don’t give up. It’s just the weight of the world.”—Josh Groban
–“The weight of the world is a trifle, if we all put our two fingers under it and try to lift together.”[emphasis mine]—Vera Nazarian
–“My mother might find a thin gold chain at the back of a drawer, wadded into an impossibly tight knot, and give it to me to untangle. It would have a shiny, sweaty smell, and excite me: Gold chains linked you to the great fairy tales and myths, to Arabia, and India; to the great weight of the world, but lighter than a feather.”—Anne Lamott
–And a few more at this website if you want to continue along this journey of exploration….
https://quotlr.com/quotes-about-weight-of-the-world/

I have been turning more and more to my writing and reading books that lift me up. I immerse myself into research and reading nonfiction books to make my characters and scenes more believable. Fiction is lovely to read, and is a break from my reality, but it can also bring anxiety into the picture. Additionally, if we watch too much of the images and destruction war brings, and listen to the words spewing out of terrible peoples’ mouths, we are triggered. This is especially true when it comes to war, death, and destruction.

The feelings are attributed to a new line of diagnosis called War Anxiety, Headline Stress Disorder, or Nuclear Anxiety. We get into a loop of worrying about the same things that “…may happen where you live.”

Sometimes we feel like watching all of the news and getting all the facts help us to gain a sense of control. In reality, it might just backfire and increase your anxiety in the long term. According to a WebMD article, “…the experts recommend focusing on things you can control, such as your general well-being. Try to:

• Eat healthy foods
• Get enough sleep
• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
• Check on your loved ones to stay connected.” (Me: Delivered a meal to a friend, called kiddo and grandpa today!)

The experts recommend that you decide to “Accept uncertainty.” By focusing on what we can control, some of the worries or stressors that war may cause may be minimized at least one day at a time. For further information, see:
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-to-handle-war-anxiety

Currently, we have little control over what is happening in North America or overseas, but we can relieve some of the worries, by lending a hand to those who are affected by these actions. My favorite go to charity is World Central Kitchen. I can’t be present in the thick of things, but I can lend them a hand monetarily. I also bought their cookbook and it is fantastic! Trying new recipes calm me and gave me a sense of accomplishment, and it doesn’t hurt that $35 more was sent to them for their efforts! Gotta love Jose Andres!
https://wck.org/

A final thought to all of my fellow human beings. Let’s make it a daily habit to “Cultivate compassion.” Experts at Harvard Medicine state that “War anxiety can trigger anger, which also has its roots in loss of control. Anger can be directed toward populations or ethnic groups, or it may be displaced onto family members or friends with a different view.”

These experts also advise us to “Walk in Nature.” Today we noticed a lot more people in the dog parks and around the lake (of course it was also 72 degrees outside so a wonderful change in our crazy spring weather). Connecting with the outdoors can relax our jaws and necks and the tension goes away. Thus the stress is gone for a little while. For more information see:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/war-anxiety-how-to-cope-202205232748

So here are my thoughts on loosening the weight of the world on your shoulders for one night: Find a mission you can accomplish (like Anne Lamott’s untangling of a chain). Listen to some good music tonight, make a good meal, turn off the radio and TV, and read Anne Lamott (one of my favorite authors). Try and lighten the load.

I send out love and understanding to those who are really feeling worrisome tonight.