DEAD BEN: LETTERS TO THE LIVING (ANXIETY)

The good thing about being dead is that you don't get to feel anxious. Maybe that's not the opener you expected, but you must be crazy to have expectations from a dead guy. This is for you, Dora. Maybe I should have started with Dear Dora. I'll do it now; you can't kill me anyway! So, Dear Dora,  I'm sorry for mentioning your name and putting you out there. I promise if there was another way, I'd change it and use some other name, but I'm already dead! I had to die early. Our friendship wasn't special in the eyes of many, and some wouldn't even consider me your friend. It's fine if that's the case even for you, but there's something you must know. I watched you closely and sensed a chasm in our few but deep conversations. Like many people alive, you've struggled with anxiety and sought therapy in odd places. In my journey, I learned that anxiety is like the unwelcome friend many ladies are told about as little kids. I apologise if that statement offends you or any lady out there, but it just felt right to say it. Forgive a dead guy! There will be times when we forget about anxiety but later face it like it never left. In other cases, we are consumed by just the thought of it, which stalls our progress. From my experience while living, I found that anxiety hits differently on different occasions. I often wondered if there was a way out. One thing that's certain is to remind ourselves that the Bible is clear that we should be anxious for nothing. The thing is, we all know this. Another way is to expect it. Remember the times I would say expect adversity, live prepared, and everybody will be alright? It's time you heed those words. I'm not sure of this (a dead guy doesn't know everything), but we shouldn't try to always make sense of anxiety. Yes, tracing its source is a great start, but staying too long in its court will only cause stillbirth. So, affirm-on. Come on, you know I like playing with words, and I don't want to sound like everyone else by saying 'affirmations'. You should affirm it. Consciously remind yourself that power resides in you and you must use it. Yeah, yoUSE it! We can often tell when we start feeling a certain way. When you see the signs, you've got to fight with everything you've got. There's no retreat. You have to win. And when you feel like you're losing, remember that feelings are fleeting and you decide. So, Dora, I want you to be happy. You deserve happiness. Wonderland exists only in the confines of our minds. No more bars; release yourself. I could go on and on because I finally have all the time in the world, but I have to stop here. There's more letters to write, and I have to finish before dawn so I can swim into the afternoon. Smiles, Dead Ben

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