There is no better way to describe the last week than extraordinary. School cancellations, travel bans, thousands of Americans with a novel, poorly understood virus with an elevated rate of mortality, social distancing and the recommendations for isolation. Who knew life could change so quickly?
At times like these, I am reminded of the acceptance chapter in the AA Big Book. While many people may be thinking the language, “nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake…”, that’s not what I am thinking. I am thinking of the following language:
“When I stopped living in the problem and began living in the answer, the problem went away.”
“When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases.”
“I must keep my magic magnifying mind on my acceptance and off my expectations, for my serenity is directly proportional to my level of acceptance.”
We are where we are. Things are as they are. This microscopic, circular thing with stuff sticking out the sides is wreaking havoc on the global population. I can accept this truth or I can spend my day frustrated and angry. I don’t get to choose the events occurring around me but I do get to choose my response to them.
For today, that response is acceptable. For today, for me, that response is to look for the bigger picture and find the good in what is happening. I can choose to be angry or I can choose to be grateful.
I choose to focus on what is good here.
Today 