The Wisdom to Know the Difference

“Please 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.”

Are you tired?

It's okay to be tired.

Your tired makes sense.

But "tired" need not be a way-of-life.

Or a badge-of-honor.

Or the new norm.

Things can change.

There are a lot of things that we cannot change:

• your friend’s cancer diagnosis

• the lease limits where you currently live

• that guy who ghosted you

• your chronic medical condition

• the fact that you are growing older

• who will be elected president of the United States in November

But there are a lot of things that you can change:

• the time of night that you crawl in bed to sleep

• the number of vegetables you consume

• the amount of water you are drinking

• the frequency that you go for a walk

• finally signing up for one-freaking yoga class

• the time spent scrolling on social media

• your commitment to journaling/processing

• your ability to say "no, thank you"

• taking the risk of disappointing others before disappointing yourself

There is wisdom here.

In knowing the difference between what is within our control.

And what is without.

There’s also some amount of peace.

Not because everything is fine.

Or everything will definitely work out how you want it to.

But because, even as things are hard and life is downright brutal, you can be okay.

You can be well.