Worry Gobblers

8/31/2021

As I am typing, the clock is ticking towards midnight. And this time, not only will midnight announce the dawn of a new day and the beginning of a new month… But as soon as the clock strikes 12, the first of September announces the arrival of spring. The season of new beginnings!
This past weekend, we attended Die Dromers Mark – a seasonal open air market n Potchefstroom. As soon as we arrived, our 7-year-old spotted a collection of colourful creatures and hurried towards the vendor. We couldn’t resist joining him to investigate and were greeted by the worry gobblers.
The tag that accompanies the worry gobbler says it all:

Hello there Brave One, tell me, how are you?
I’m your friendly WORRY GOBBLER and eating up your worries is what I love to do.
It’s okay to feel nervous, or even a little scared.
Your tummy might feel upside down, like you’re standing on your head.
When your heart is feeling sad or heavy and your chest a little tight -
I’ll be here to listen any time of the day or night.
Feed me as many worries as you like: 1, 2, or 3.
I’ll gobble them up at lightning speed they’re delicious to me, you see.
Draw a picture, write them down, or whisper in my ear
And together we will see that there is nothing at all to fear.
Love, your WORRY GOBBLER.

There is nothing left for me to say really.
Only that I think we all could do with one of those…

11 Comments

Margriet Aucamp

9/9/2021 12:42:28 am

We all need someone to listen when we feel worried. No one should have to carry the burden of those emotions alone.

In our mind, something might look completely hopeless, but very often we'll find that, as soon as we share it with someone, we already feel weight lifting from our shoulders. It helps us to put things into perspective and just gives us the assurance that we are cared for and validated.

I really hope that we all have "worry gobblers" in our life, to help us process our negative emotions.

Jeanette

9/9/2021 12:43:20 am

I think it’s a very good idea to have someone or something to talk to. From personal experience, Iam not one to be comfortable with talking to others about what worries me, it makes me feel vulnerable and you never know what the other person has to say and sometimes one doesn’t have someone to talk to, so who better to talk to than a worry gobbler who doesn’t judge nor criticise you.

Eliana

9/9/2021 12:46:17 am

A WORRY GOBBLER is a brilliant way to help children interpret and process the worries they experience. It is such an innovative way to put children's feelings into words. By drawing, writing or talking to a WORRY GOBBLER, a child can learn to cope with their emotions. It specifically draws attention to the fact that you don't have to face your worries alone. Someone can help you through them. Oftentimes adults need to be reminded that you don't have to face your problems alone! Everyone truly needs a WORRY GOBBLER.😊

Janca

9/9/2021 12:46:56 am

I also think it's great to have a Worry Gobbler! Some people's pets are sometimes their Worry Gobblers and statistics show that it really is the case! We need someone (or something) to confide in and to share our true feelings with...

Wilhelm Meyer

4/2/2022 06:51:38 am

When I think of worry I think of a lot of doubt that arises in the conscious mind... this can be doubt of any kind. As a music student i believe there is constant doubt in your abilities: Will I be able to play that difficult passage? OR, I haven't practiced in weeks so I begin to worry about concerts or practical exams. I do believe that as a product of doubt worry begins to dam up- this happened many times in my own life and because of this dammed up feeling, other more destructive feelings arise... I believe a way to counter worry and doubt is through planning- in the sense of planning to achieve goals. I usually take a breath, wright down all the things I have to do this week and start with the easy and small achievements, working towards something bigger... alot of worry can be eliminated if you just breath, ttake a step back from the situation and see the goals instead of obstacles- take it slow

Julian

4/3/2022 02:54:30 am

Worry is truly one of the most troubling things in life. As the "Worry Gobbler" eat up the worries, so does the worries eat you up. I believe that to worry less, is to think in smaller intervals. Think of what you have to do between today and the next few days. Do not think of a distant thing that will make you worry now, think of it when the time comes. Focus on the now and you'll see (personally) that life becomes so much more enjoyable.
But yes, we all need a Worry Gobbler sometimes.

Elandri Vorster

4/3/2022 07:34:23 am

I think that this is a lovely idea and children could certainly benefit from a toy like that. Grown-ups, however, I think should be 'worry grobblers' to one another. We should support and listen to one another. We should help and pray for one another. Finally I believe that we all have someone who would love us in our worries. His name is Jesus and he never fails to love our souls.

Bernice Klopper

4/3/2022 01:35:55 pm

Oh wow, what a creative way to deal with 'worry'!! Worry is a feeling that everyone face, no matter if you're big or small. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we're worrying about something. The "Worry Gobbler" is a reminder that it is okay to sometimes feel nervous or scared, but that it is also important to identify what makes you worry and to share it with someone who is caring and have empathy with you. I think this is a very creative and inspiring way of making people realize that you are not alone and that there is no need to face all the difficulties on your own, someone is there to listen to you and to support you through it all.

Dehan

6/17/2022 03:31:29 am

I love how reassuring this is and the image of a fantasy creature eating up one’s worries. It’s very friendly towards children and even me myself as an adult felt comfort in this thought. The fact especially of it doesn’t matter how many worries you tell this creature he will happily listen to you and eat your worries gave me comfort.

Seso

8/30/2023 06:03:21 am

We are humans and we have feelings and sometimes it is okay to be vulnerable and share our problems and worries. It is really important not to bottle staff up.

This is the best approach for the kids but not forgetting us also, sometimes sharing our worries is the best approach.
Laughing at each won't solve our problems we need to be each other's worrying gobbler.

Moratwa

10/25/2023 02:17:16 am

I feel that we all need someone to rely on for surety, where on can express themselves freely, the worry gobbler is surely one safe measure that allows one to be free and express themselves in a way that allows them to share their problems without thinking too much about the result thereafter.

Worry Gobblers

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