Acceptance is something that has been forced upon me over the years. I always felt when people talked about it that it seemed like giving up or at least giving in to unacceptable circumstances. Now I feel my own lack of acceptance at any given time really is the source of my unhappiness.
My thoughts were always "I don't want this to be happening to me right now" or "I don't want to feel this way right now". At this point I usually run as fast as I can towards any distraction instead of just sitting with the uncomfortable feelings I am having.
This week my friends daughter was diagnosed with something bad. She is a recovering addict for eight years from crack and other things. They say her situation is terminal and short term. Everyone is in shock and trying to find their place in this new situation. Her mother my friend has Parkinson's and her daughter and her husband moved here to help look after her as he illness progresses. What now?
Life isn't fair and it is so random. I use to think that if I did everything right then I could keep the bad stuff at bay. We have spiritual beliefs that give us the illusion that with the right behavior and mind set we can protect ourselves from our worst imagined fears. These beliefs do give us support during our transition from shock to acceptance but life just keeps happening.
Acceptance is all we have when life is heartbreaking if we push back we miss the moments that are happening now. The spaces of happiness that can be found every day. The weekend before we got this tragic news a few of us had gone to new local restaurant. It was a beautiful night with breezes blowing in July so we sat outside. The food was great it was the perfect night. None of us could imagine what the next week would bring. We all soaked it up and something perfect to remember.
I do believe in the spiritual and my search for it has brought me back from what felt like was permanent darkness. The power of the spiritual is that we can open ourselves up to life as it happens instead of running.
We don't want to waste time standing with our backs against the wall bracing ourselves for the next impact. We have to let life wash over us knowing that it is not our fault it is just life. Blaming ourselves or anyone else is just away of running from what is and thinking we can control might come next.
Acceptance can give us moments of peace to see what is right in front of us. To see what is going on with the person sitting right there in front of right now what comfort do they need. Instead of wasting time being miserable about the future we will have plenty of time for that when it comes.
Well said
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