Serenity

Grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change, 
the courage to change the things I can, 
and the wisdom to know the difference.

We’ve all seen & heard this before.   It’s the foundation for any 12-step program, and in some form or another, it’s really at the core of any self-improvement plan.  Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as it sounds.

I usually focus on that second part: changing the things I can. Whether it’s actually doing something different or simply finding a different way to approach things, I feel like I’m doing something constructive.  At a minimum, I can always change the way I think about the situation.  I emphasize the positives – what’s still good in my life when things seem to be going bad, what I still have when I’m grieving over a loss, and what still makes me smile when I am ready to cry. 

It’s that first part that I’m struggling with right now: accepting the things I cannot change.  Whether it’s denial, wishful thinking, or just plain stubbornness, I’m having a really hard time accepting my new reality.  Honestly, it’s hard enough to just say it.  I find euphemisms, or don’t even say it at all.