Really? That title that sits right up above these words, “Acceptance Brings Joy!”, is that really true? Years ago when I first heard this slogan in Al-Anon, a twelve step program, I remember thinking, “You have got to be kidding me”. I mean accepting another person’s actions and decisions can sometimes be very challenging if it is a behavior that I do not like. And I am certainly not finding any joy in it.

But then I was taught part of the Serenity Prayer, originally composed by Reinhold Niebuhr.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. (other people, places, and things)

The courage to change the things I can. (me) And the wisdom to know the difference.

Says so much in just a few wise words. And when I begin to listen once again to these wise words, I can begin to let go, get all centered up again, get grounded into who Joan really is. And I love living this way!

I sat out on my deck off my kitchen the other morning. It was early and the sun was just coming up. Rather cool outside and I was wrapped in my thick, soft, cream colored bathrobe I had treated myself to while I was in New York City a few years ago. Reddogg was lying beside me and I was sipping on a hot cappuccino. I was trying to focus on myself and not on some personal challenges I have been recently facing. Challenges that were giving me feelings of grief and powerlessness. Yes, those kinds of feelings that are so hard to feel and face. No fun. Too much. Ughhh.

I decided to just concentrate on my breathing. Breathe, in and out, in and out. And this pause in my squirrel-cage thoughts caused me to listen. And I could hear the Wood Ducks on the pond, and two Hoot Owls calling whooooo, whooooo to one another. And then it was like all the other birds in the area decided they had a song to sing, too. It was wow! Like an orchestra, a symphony, beautiful music being sung just for me! I felt so very loved. And that was just what I needed. To begin to relax into the day, into my life, and remember as my late Uncle Leon used to advise me, “Joan, everyone is where they need to be today. Trust God. Trust Life. Trust Joan.”

Once I truly accept (one more time), that I cannot control other people, places, and things, then I can begin to feel some joy. That quiet joy that sits inside of us because we are no longer kicking and screaming about a situation in our lives. We begin to allow blessings to flow to us, to all of us. And maybe to understand we can’t see the whole picture, for ourselves and for others. Grace.

I am so very grateful I have so many tools to navigate life with, like feeling my feelings even when I don’t want to. Or trying hard to accept things I cannot change. To keep trying, and try some more if I have to, and learn to pick up some new tools too, because serenity is the payoff. Priceless.

Take what you need and leave the rest, Dear Reader.

With Love, Joan