How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1948

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Before You Read

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface-Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Part 8Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 8: “How I Conquered Worry (31 True Stories)”

Part 8, Chapter Summary: “‘Six Major Troubles Hit Me All at Once’ by C. I. Blackwood”

In 1943, C. I. Blackwood experienced six worries simultaneously:

His business college was at risk of bankruptcy.
His son was going to war.
He was in danger of losing his home due to development plans for a new airport.
The water supply on his land had dried up.
He was worried the tires on his old car would wear out, leaving him without transport.
His daughter wanted to go to college, but he could not afford to send her.

Blackwood decided to write his worries down. As he could not resolve any of them, he filed the list away. Eighteen months later, he reviewed the list and realized none of his worries had materialized. His business college recovered, and his son survived the war. Plans for the airport were never realized as oil was found nearby. Blackwood dug a new water well, and his tires lasted longer than he expected. An improvement in his finances also allowed him to send his daughter to college. Due to his experience, Blackwood realized the futility of worrying about things that are out of one’s control.