Pick a Worry, Any Worry

The famous analyst Dr. Karl Menninger once asked a wealthy patient, “What will you do with all your money?” The patient replied, “Just worry about it, I guess.” “In that case,” said the doctor, “do you experience pleasure from worrying about your money?” With a deep sigh, the patient said, “No, but I feel such terror when I think of giving any of it away.” Commenting on what he termed his patient’s “money sickness,” Dr. Menninger said, “Generous people rarely have a mental illness.” To which we can safely say, “A truly generous person rarely lacks for anything.” In the words of one such person, “My hobby is giving something away every day — something tangible — so that I will be reminded to give away the vastly more important intangible: a smile, a word of encouragement, a healing touch, an earnest prayer.

“Every day, I give away something. It may be a book, poster, flower, poem, or a card with an inspirational…