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October 13, 2006

No Worries

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 12:19 pm

I've been thinking . . .
When I was traveling to other countries, what I was most likely to bring home were a tiny change in my accent and a word or phrase that became mine forever. I also bought lots of books and an occasional other thing, but who knows where they went?

Considering my love of words, I think I ended up with a nice collection of souveniers.

One word I got from the Brits was Brilliant! It’s a lovely word for describing something wonderful and magical.

From the Italians, I carried home a pair Prego, Grazie. How much more musical could welcome and thank you sound? I want a life filled with the two of them.

In OZ, the land of the Australians, I couldn’t leave without No Worries. They’ve become my weekend words.

“No Worries.”

I worked out a while back that worrying about things I can’t change doesn’t make stuff any better and doesn’t make me feel good either. In fact, worrying makes me cranky. I get to feeling sorry for myself.

Talk about a way to blow weekend — being cranky ranks right up there.

So I subscribe to “No Worries” weekends.

(I have my meltdowns on Thursdays, if I really need one.)

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25 Comments to “No Worries”

  1. October 13th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
    katiebird said

    That sounds so fun. I think I’ll join you.

  2. October 13th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
    Mike said

    “no worries” has become part of British speak too. Probably as a result of the increase in Aussies coming to the UK in their gap year.

    One phrase that you might like to consider is “happy days”. I’m not talking about the 1970’s TV show but a turn of phrase that is becoming more common place in Britain to describe something that pleases you.

    A good example? When I read that I was an official SOB. The first thing I said? “Happy days”….

    Have a good weekend Liz and everyone who has the common sense to read her blog :)

    Happy days

    Mike

  3. October 13th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Katie!
    It’s a great approach to the weekend. C’mon in the weekend’s fine!

  4. October 13th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Thank you, Mike!
    I remember your “happy days!” comment when you found out you were an SOB! But alas, I fear everyone here would hear the TV show first I and I would be forever explaining it just like you just did.

    A wonderful weekend to you too, sir!

  5. October 13th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
    TechZ said

    Quite the traveller Liz, where do you want to go next?

  6. October 13th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi TechZ
    I haven’t left the country for almost 5 years. I’d love to come down to see all of you. :)

  7. October 13th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
    ann michael said

    Spot on, dear!

    Brilliant post.

  8. October 13th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey, no problems mon.

  9. October 13th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
    Scorpia said

    Yeah Liz, but what about worrying over the things you can change?

    (Just feeling contrary right now ;)

  10. October 13th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Scorpia,
    Nothing wrong with feeling contrarian.

    I don’t worry about them. I change ‘em. :)

  11. October 13th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
    cat said

    A ‘no worry weekend’ is something In need to take on.

    For the past yaks ages I’ve used weekends to play catch-up for what I haven’t been able to finish during the week.

    Gaining words through travel - words as well as accents - oh yes!

    My parents were expats when I was growing up. It became a race between the kids in my family to see who could over-write the last acquired accent with the new one.

    You see, it’s not only kids who can be cruel. Teachers would stand us at the front of the class and ask us to “speak” … “huh?” … “say anything, we want to hear your accent” …

    For a painfully shy child it was torture.

    Now that I’m older I have to be careful when I’m tired or stressed as I (sometimes) switch in and out. And since I’ve taught myself to pick up accents on the fly, being around someone who stutters or lisps (I used to lisp as a child) can leave both of us red faced.

    The fun part moving around was learning slang in our new homes - most eyebrow raising to my parents. When I moved to the US at 14 there was a wonderful range of words and phrases to learn.

    “going to the can, man” was one I loved to say … in private.

    These days, whenever I’m around my American friends I have to be careful to avoid saying “toilet” (British). But I can’t get myself to replace it with “bathroom” as it doesn’t make sense anymore.

    In my opinion, Australians have one of the richest vocabs around. My personal fav is “chuffed”.

  12. October 13th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ah, Cat,
    Your “chuffed” made me think of “kerfuffle.” :) What a marvelous and color vocabularly you must have in your mind with all of that country-changing in your personal history!

    I can only imagine how difficult it must have been, yet so exciting. You were an explorer of the rarest kind at the youngest age. :)

  13. October 14th, 2006 at 1:41 am
    HART (1-800-HART) said

    HEY! “Kerfuffle” is *MY* word that I use when our two Papillon dogs, Maxxie and Sophie, are either playing with each other with those little snarl growls .. or they are ganging up on Zeussie Pussy Cat!

  14. October 14th, 2006 at 1:43 am
    HART (1-800-HART) said

    um, I was just kidding there .. you can use it too :D

  15. October 14th, 2006 at 1:50 am
    HART (1-800-HART) said

    PS.. after I came back from UK & Sweden trip back in 1996 I was obnoxious with everybody by adding “absolutely fabulous” (from the TV show) after everything thing… something like the Marklar :)

    and I was pronouncing it as..

    Abs-zo-LOOTLEY FAB-a-lis

  16. October 14th, 2006 at 1:56 am
    HART (1-800-HART) said

    Oh.. and since I’m up - and the only one posting at the moment .. When you guys travel to a foreign country like .. Canada .. did you start talking like .. “Eh?” and “Like..” .. “No Doot Aboot It?”

  17. October 14th, 2006 at 6:33 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey HART!
    One of my favorite things is to wake in the morning and find you have been here, leaving comments for me. These are wonderful! Prezzies!

    I thought Canadians say “No Doot ABOAT it!”
    :)

  18. October 14th, 2006 at 9:02 am
    Paul said

    You are not saying it right; pronounced “Nau Warries”

  19. October 14th, 2006 at 9:04 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Paul!
    Thanks. I knew my accent was getting in the way there. I’ll practice some more. :)

  20. October 14th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
    HART (1-800-HART) said

    Hi Liz … I think I had it right, however .. I hardly notice my accent .. :D
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV6JtRHl2z8

  21. October 14th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    HART!
    I just watched that YouTube. I hardly noticed you accent too. I think you’ve got it covered. :)

  22. October 15th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
    Caryn said

    The question is, HOW do you do that? I so admire anyone who can turn off that endless, obsessive commentary, focusing on what’s really worthwhile, but I have so much trouble with it. Any suggestions?

  23. October 15th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
    ME Strauss said

    It’s hard to explain, exactly, but I “make friends” with the things that scare me. Whether it’s physical pain or worries, I just turn off the tape recording in my head about them and rerecord something over it. Something more postive that I think works in my favor.

    Mostly I use logic to explain my way out of things. Like this “Worrying will not change the outcome. Doing might, but if I can’t do anything. I might as well relax and die happy.”

  24. October 16th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
    Caryn said

    That’s what I try to do, and I’d like to think I’m getting a little better. It’s nice, at least, to hear that I’m on the right track.

  25. October 16th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Caryn,
    I think it’s really a habit of thinking that you have to catch yourself at. When the wrong thoughts are happening, I have to stop, breathe, and tell myself consciously I’m not going there.

    Sounds like that’s what you’re doing too. Practice is all that comes next.

    Oh yeah, and I put my husband in charge of worrying about all big things — nuclear war and such — I know he worries enough about those for the two of us. )

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