A Swedish Proverb?

I have one of those "Page a Day" calendars at work and the quote of the day yesterday was "Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow." It is 'an old Swedish Proverb'. Yes, an old Swedish Proverb. I didn't know the Swedish had proverbs, but there is one and this was it! I can't wait to do some research on other wise saying from the Swedish people, but that will be another post.

So what does this Old Swedish Proverb have to say as part of the 365 days of positive and purposeful living? A lot!

How often do we worry about the little things in life and they become huge burdens taking our energy, attitude, and time? We give so many little things such power and give them a big shadow.

I was thinking about this and how the view of the shadow really is a good analyogy.

Remember when you use to walk with your brother or friend and you would jump on their shadow? "I stepped on your shadow" was a common saying as we tried to stay out of trouble walking around town. You add a small animal to the mix and as the sun set the shadows of these really tiny things became huge. A little cat looked like a lion of a shadow. There were movies about how others scared people by the size of their shadow. Come around the corner and see a huge shadow--well of course that means there is a huge monster waiting for you!

In reality though the shadow that is case is always larger then the actual 'thing'. If the sun hits just right my shadow can make it look like I am 20 feet tall!

The same holds with our worries. If you shine your sunshine (energy) on them what happens? They become huge. What started as a 1 foot worry is now a 20 foot problem!

The next time you are faced with a worry or a problem, step back and ask yourself if you are blowing sunshine into it that isn't true or if you can let it go.

Oh those Swedish people are so smart!