Things to Worry About
Someone recently tweeted F. Scott Fitzgerald’s heartwarming list of things he wanted his daughter, Scottie, to worry about and things he wanted her not to worry about. As I have just finished reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (a beautiful book, and also April’s GAB Book Club pick!), and having read all about Fitzgerald’s interactions with Hemingway and the rest of their clan, I read the list. It is no secret that these male writers of the early 1900’s were not the most upstanding men, but it is amazing how they can write so sincerely, isn’t it? I’ve had my share of interactions with young writers who believe in nothing but the craft. While I found that type of passionate existence attractive for a while, it wore on me to know that the brightest flames always burned the fastest, and, while watching the rising of potentially great artists was a wonderful thing to be a part of, watching them inevitably burn out and fall fast and without control was heartbreaking. While I have, in ways, also chosen the life of an artist with my writing both here and elsewhere, I will always choose stability and love over all else. For, if you don’t have love, what do you have?
Anyway, reading Fitzgerald’s list for his daughter has inspired me to create a list of my own, for my students. I will probably never share this with them, but it’s a nice sentiment, isn’t it? Here goes…
Things to worry about:
Worry about passion
Worry about honesty
Worry about the greater good
Worry about happiness
Worry about…Things not to worry about:
Don’t worry about clothes (or hair, or makeup)
Don’t worry about the grade
Don’t worry about what your parents want you to do with your life
Don’t worry about tomorrow
Don’t worry about things you cannot control
Don’t worry about fault
Don’t worry about fame and fortune
Don’t worry about who may or may not be texting you at this very moment
Don’t worry about winning
Don’t worry about losing
Don’t worry about being the best (or the worst)
Don’t worry about the destination
Don’t worry about loss
Don’t worry about what people think
Don’t worry about material things
Don’t worry about being perfectThings to think about:
What is good about this and every moment?
What do I want out of life?
How do I get to where I want to go?
