Don’t Worry.

Anyone who knows me well may attest to the fact that I have the tendency to be a worrier. It’s not something I particularly like being, and so I really do try to hide it; but, nonetheless, it’s a part of who I am. In my own experience, though, I’ve found that as tiresome and stressful as it is that worry often comes from a place of love. We worry about the people we care about, we worry about the things that affect the people we care about, we worry about the ways we can make a tough situation better for the people we care about. So, really, it all comes down to people we care about.

That’s why, on Wednesday, I was truly touched (nearly to the point of tears) when, while volunteering at the annual party that Trinity holds for the Elderly that the Vincent DePaul society visits, I was approached by Mary (one of the women whom I’ve been visiting since September). Her excitement at seeing me was matched by her words: “I saw that flights to the U.S. were being cancelled because of snow, and I tried to call you…because I was so worried about you.” Such a genuinely kind and caring person, Mary had been worried that I hadn’t been able to make it home for Christmas, but as soon as she found out that I had, we entered into conversation about our holidays, with her enquiring about almost every member of my family! Even some of the Irish students that I volunteer with approached me afterwards with big smiles, saying how truly lovely it was to see the sincere happiness in Mary’s reaction.

And, the party itself was quite the success! With a band playing “Brown-Eyed Girl” and “I’m a Believer,” I almost questioned whether I was really in Dublin for a few minutes. But, then, a few of the people we visit on a weekly basis got up to sing some classic Irish songs, encouraging us volunteers to dance along! For me, the party became one of those times where you couldn’t help but simply focus on that very moment and to appreciate the happiness that filled the room, nearly bursting out of Trinity’s dining hall.

And, even though Mary may never read this entry (I’m not certain she has a computer), I have to thank her for being such an instrumental person throughout my time in Dublin; and I hope she knows that her worry for me is one that I would most definitely return for her.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

One Response to “Don’t Worry.”

1. Kelsey says:

   January 25, 2011 at 8:39 am

   oh wow, she sounds so amazing!!