It Is EaSy To TeLl OtHeRs NoT To WoRrY, BuT LeSs EaSy To TaKe SuCh AdViCe YoUrSeLf

‘It is easy to tell others not to worry, but less easy to take such advice yourself ’.How far have you found this to be true from your experience? As far as I can recall, I find that the above saying is variably true. It is easy to utter “don’t worry” to someone in trouble, bit when I am the one facing the problem, I cannot stop worrying…laughs out loud.

I shall always remember the first time I was whisked to the dentist during my primary school time. I was just a little kid at the time. The white-uniformed nurse or rather dentist suddenly appeared from now where while we were doing P.E. and started examining my teeth. We went to the government dental clinic where our teeth were drilled and filled. Although the incident happened long ago I can still recall every anxious moment waiting in the van and outside the dentist office before our turn finally came.

When it comes to examination, I worry a great deal too. I worry about little things like how many pens I should take into the examination hall, did I came to the right examination hall, my student card and my pencil. I always felt that all my pens might run dry or my student card would go missing, but my worries were always for nothing. No great calamity had ever befallen me in the examination before…phews! Still I worry. When I see my friends fidgeting about outside the hall, I am the one who gives wonderful advice. I am able to console and calm them down quite effectively, but as for myself I go on worrying and fidgeting. I cannot follow my advice.

The first time I had to sit for an oral examination. I was all tensed up a day before the actual examination. Understandably my friends were also worrying about how they should behave in front of the examiners. They were planning strategy and techniques. I acted nonchalant, as though I was confident about the whole matter. I even gave the some important hints and told them to stop worrying. They were thankful for my suggestions and I suppose that I gave them an impression of calm and steadiness. But inside me I knew better. My mind was in turmoil. All through the night before the examination day, my thoughts were fixed on the examination. I felt as though a tape recorder inside my head was playing my plans and strategy over and over again. I did not sleep well that night. My dreams were filled with monstrous examiners and failed examinations. Such was my anxiety. Sighs

Again my worries were for nothing. Everything went smoothly and I sailed through the whole thing with a hitch. I began to wonder the folly of worrying and the waste if time and energy that it took up. I told myself not to worry anymore, that it was not beneficial in any way. It took me great effort, but I managed to cut down on worrying. Whatever the future brings we have neither guarantee nor certainty. I only know that when the future becomes present, many surprises occur and most of them are pleasant. Even the bad things are intolerable. So there is no point worrying.

Soon it will be time again for our examinations. My classmates are all hard at work preparing for the occasion. The examination fever has flared up. Sweaty brows and haggard faces become common again. It is time for me to begin working too. I tell my friends that examinations are not worth worrying about. I tell myself the same things too, but yet at the back of my mind, I wonders how well I will do in the examinations. To wonder is not the same as to worry, or is it ?????

Cheers...