The Worry Monster finds you. Each one is randomly selected.
The Worry Monsters are inside capsules in a vending machine and are chosen at random. See the last image for an example.
Tell it your worries; it will listen to you.
In the photos, you can see what they look like. Each one comes with a carabiner and its own name with a QR code leading to its story (the carabiner is not yet visible in the picture), so you can attach it to your backpack, pencil case, jacket, or wherever you like.
You can print out the story as a PDF. Simply click on "Further information".
Each one is handmade by me, S. Alder, in Brenner, Switzerland.
The Worry Monster
In a world very close to our own – behind the shadows of the trees, in the cracks of walls, under beds, and in forgotten drawers – live the Worry Monsters.
But don’t be afraid: they are not monsters in the traditional sense. They don’t bite, they don’t roar, they don’t scare anyone. Worry Monsters are different. Some are soft, fuzzy, and colorful – others are smooth, quiet, and transparent. Each Worry Monster is unique. Just as different as we humans are.
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One day, a child named Leni was sitting on her bed. Her head was full – full of thoughts, fears, and ruminations. Her math test had gone wrong. Her best friend had looked at her strangely. And Dad had worked so much this morning that he barely had time for her.
"Why does my tummy feel so heavy?" she asked herself quietly.
Then she suddenly heard a soft, bright tinkling sound. Almost like glass gently striking against glass. It came from the sock drawer. Carefully, she opened it – and there it lay: a small, round creature made of colorful glass. It looked almost like a large, living marble. Inside it, colors swirled, moving gently as if they were breathing.
"Hello," it said with a warm, clear voice that sounded like light through water. "I am Mumbel. I am your Worry Monster."
Leni blinked. "You... are made of glass?"
Mumbel nodded. "Yes. Made of special glass. I am fragile, but also strong. And I am here to help you. I belong to the Worry Monster Association. There are many of us – and every Worry Monster finds exactly the person it belongs with. You didn't go looking for me, but I found you."
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From that day on, Mumbel was always there for Leni. In the evening, when her heart was heavy, he would curl up by her pillow and say, "Give me your worries. I am listening." And Leni would talk. About the math tests. About the silent friend. About her dad. While she spoke, Mumbel began to glow from within. Her worries wandered like little shadows into the colorful glass – and slowly became lighter there. The colors inside swirled, turned into light, and eventually, everything was clear again.
"You see," said Mumbel, "your worries are important. But you don't have to carry them alone."
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And so Leni grew up. And Mumbel stayed. Not because she was weak – but because even strong people need someone who listens and quietly glows with them.
And somewhere, perhaps even right now, you might see something glassy shimmering in the light. Perhaps a marble. Perhaps more. Perhaps it is your Worry Monster that has found you.
Because the right Worry Monster always finds its way to you. ????????
The End.
