Photo credit unknown.
bikehikebabe recently sent me this photo of a contented polar bear on a not-long-for-this-world ice floe. I’ve added him to my collection of role models.
The bear reminds me of the fellow who jumped off the Empire State Building. As he whizzed past the 10th floor someone yelled. “How is it going?”
He cheerfully answered, “All right so far!”
It might sound as if I’m an ostrich, hiding my head in the sand, ignoring the problems in the world. No so. We get an abundance of newspapers and magazines and I’m not clueless. I just don’t see much sense in worrying about things I can’t control.
It seems better than the alternative:
What do you think?
I guess we find out what we can do something about by experimenting.
.-= Evan´s last blog ..The Pleasure of Finding Things Out =-.
I just discovered that I could do something today that I was unable to do yesterday! 😀
.-= Grannymar´s last blog ..Food Monday ~ Country Pâté =-.
No point in worrying about what you can’t control.
.-= Looney´s last blog .. =-.
Que sera sera! One day at a time.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Older Men, Take Heart. Older Women, Take The Advise. =-.
There are always problems everywhere. Worrying about them is not productive or positive. Becoming part of a solution to a problem would be the best use of ones energy – much better than wasting it on worrying. I blogged about worry too! 🙂
.-= suzen´s last blog ..Wasting Time – MillieWisdom on Worry =-.
Evan,
Yes, the trick is to figure out where we have some influence. That sometimes means experimenting.
Grannymar,
Good for you! That’s the joy of a challenge.
Looney,
Agreed. Again the trick is to know what we can influence and what we can’t.
Rummuser,
That sentiment applies in a lot of cases. No sense wasting our energy.
suzen,
I agree. Worrying is against my religion. If I can’t do something about a certain situation I can always be constructive elsewhere.
I enjoyed your post.
I find that picture of the polar bear sad – it appears to be an advertisement for the dangers of global warning. I am a very cheerful person but posting a picture like that and then rejoicing in your Don’t Worry, Be Happy attitude is darn right creepy.
Noan,
I wouldn’t call it creepy, but the picture does represent real problems in the world, problems bigger than we as individuals can prevent. Do you agree with that assessment? How do you handle it? This post was meant to be food for thought. I would love a deep discussion on the subject.
Just in case anyone has never been a Mad Magazine fan, the term, “What, me worry?” comes from Alfred E. Neuman, the magazines’s mascot and cover boy. He has run for president many times, using the slogan, “You could do worse, and usually have.”
I remember reading somewhere years ago that we cannot control what goes on outside our own heads. It’s what goes on inside that we can do something about. And if we can take control of what we think and say, we have a far better chance of influencing our environment in a positive way. Which is better in the long run….
.-= gaelikaa´s last blog ..In Memory of Marie =-.
gaelikaa,
I agree with that! I also believe that learning to take responsibility for what we think and how we act can sometimes be a great adventure. Although you might not feel that way right now, given the challenges you’re dealing with.
However I do grieve for that bear–& all the other polar bears.
How about not driving your car everywhere. Take the bus, walk, bicycle. Don’t fill your house with unnecessary stuff you don’t need, that you’ll throw away later. Plant trees, work with environmental groups to keep forests from being cut down. Don’t eat polar bear meat. (a little humor there)
bikehikebabe,
I’ve been doing that for years. I don’t see it doing much good if the population keeps exploding.