stick your worries on a shelf

the mister and i were browsing around the shops in warwick, ny and stumbled upon ‘love life tattoo and art studio.’ on a table inside i spotted a pile of brightly colored pouches which instantly triggered a strange and powerful rush of nostalgia.

jamie and i were kids who overanalyzed everything. we asked questions and demanded answers. we also had a grandmother living in our home who for the better part of a decade battled cancer. to put the kibosh on our worries, our parents stowed one of these pouches under each of our pillows.

handcrafted in guatemala, worry dolls measure an inch tall, wear traditional mayan clothing, and were originally crafted to combat fear and dread. legend dictates, when a child whispers to the doll and places it under her pillow, the doll assumes all of the worrying so the girl can peacefully sleep.

i have not seen worry dolls in over a decade. the moment i laid eyes on them in the shop i was eleven years old again. and then it struck me. the worry doll pouch i had as a girl was my original prayer jar. it seems i have always felt this desire to release my prayers, wishes, and fears into the universe. i have always craved that cathartic relief. of letting go.