Anxiety over issues floating free in mind

Back in my high school days, there was talk about free floating anxiety. It was something people joked about, something people sought treatment for and something that seemed to reflect the so-called anxious times we were living in.

As with any defining moments in history, we need to look back on our past to see if there’s anything we can learn.

At the time, I brushed a lot of my anxiety off to being a teenager, unsure of the future and not really filled with a passion to pursue anything in particular. There was no “boldly going where no one has gone before” gene to be found in my DNA.

I was a follower, to say the least, but even at that, not a very committed follower. This is probably a good thing in the long run. I know my parents worried about the real world outside the borders of Wittenberg. I’m sure they worried about their daughter who had a tendency to migrate toward interesting schools of thought. Maybe it was the times, but I always felt Mom and Dad were concerned I might get sucked in by some outrageous cult and sell daisies at bus stations. I think cults were getting a lot of publicity back then, and it probably was something to worry about.

My parents should have known better than to spend time worrying about something that needed such commitment from me. I’m just not the type of person who can blindly follow the masses. I also get easily bored with things and can’t generate a level of commitment needed to become a fanatic.

Many people like to have a Bible passage that brings them comfort in a time of need. Generally, it’s something filled with love, hope, forgiveness and any of those other great notions. It should come as no surprise that the verse I gravitate to is: “Test everything, but hold on to what is good.” No blindly following trends for me but also open to another point of view.

Granted, I’m not one of those who needs to test deeply, but I do have an inner compass that I trust. When I come upon thoughts or situations that seem untrustworthy, I seem to be able to recognize that, and that has helped me avoid dangers in life — like the cults my parents were worried about.

Just the other day, I was feeling a little more anxious than usual. I couldn’t quite understand where it was coming from as my needs are being met, I’m not in harm’s way and I have much to be thankful for. I think a lot of my anxiety is being amplified by the construction taking place in front of my house and the lack of quick access.

Mostly, I work from home, but there are times when I want or need to get someplace quickly, and I can’t just pull out of my driveway on a moment’s notice. It’s one thing to make the choice to stay safe at home, which I’m happy to do, but it’s another thing to have physical barriers keeping you there.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m amazed at how quickly this road construction project is moving along. I’m excited for the day, in the not-too-far future, when I can enjoy even sidewalks and level streets and gutters that quickly whisk away the rains.

In the meantime, I need to do a better job of managing my thoughts and fears. I need to remember to see the humor in situations. I can’t remember the cartoon I saw so many years ago, but one character dismissively said, “You’re just suffering from free float anxiety,” to which the other character hurled an object at his head and said, “Oh, yeah? Well, free float this!”

I hope we can all use this time to realize that what bothers one person might not even concern another, and we should practice being kind — or learn how to duck.

Miriam Nelson is the news editor of the Wittenberg Enterprise and Birnamwood News. Readers can contact her at mnelson@newmedia-wi.com.