Anxiety, dreams and video games.

Most of the time, the anxiety that wells up inside of us captures our soul, holding us captive. Determined to shake it, the harder we try, the tighter it grips. Have you had one of those dreams?

Some show up in their underwear to work or school while others find themselves presenting something with no preparation or with out a clue. For me, it's sight.

I'm either driving or someone's life is in danger or I'm walking through someone's front yard trying to avoid the stickers. If I try to look where I'm going, my world goes black. If I relax, I can barely make out what it is I'm trying to focus on. I know the only way to see in those dreams, but I stubbornly try with all my might.

My dad told me, in all his random wisdom, that I'm actually awake. I'm in some sort of trance where my body won't do what my brain tells it to do.

I'm not a worrier. I just don't worry. Close to financial ruin? I don't worry. Possibly coming down with the only case of madeupcrazyvirus? Not worrying. The airplane is going to be delayed upon arrival, but the departure is six minutes away from takeoff and I've got to get to terminal C from terminal A? I don't worry, I attack it.

But I do get anxious. I'd trade my everyday anxiety for worry. It reminds me of Tetris. Remember that game? You have to line the blocks up and fill a line for it to disappear. If you're directly in line, you can press the downward key and force the block down faster. But if you get too antsy and careless, you might be one or two spots from where you want to be. Then you have to try to fix the mistake.

That's how I feel with life. I need to learn a few things from Tetris. I need to learn a few things from my anxiety dreams. If I relax and get my heart rate down, things might fall into place where they should be.

The Bible talks about not being anxious. Doctors say decreasing anxiety helps your heart. Stress is a bad side effect. Thanks, Tetris. You make the world seem to make sense.

Now, what were they trying to say with Super Mario Brothers? Hmm, turtles and mushrooms? Flying bombs and fireballs? And does the MIA princess reveal our lack of emotional commitment?