For Today: April 9th

For Today: April 9^th

Always shun whatever may make you angry.

Publilus Syrus

What is it that makes me angry? Life is what it is; there are causes and effects, many of which I am not aware. Do I rage against the tide and the moon? No. I accept them as they are, knowing  I cannot change them.

But neither can I change people. So why rage at them---and at situations that are beyond my control? There is a better choice. I can consider the circumstances a natural part of life that can be dealt with calmly and rationally, and I can then express my feelings in accordance with that view.

For today: To the extent that I can accept my own and others’ shortcomings, I can be free of anger.

Personally, I believe that I chose to STAY angry so I would have an excuse to overeat. So-and-so had the NERVE to do thus-and-such to ME, and therefore, I am entitled to overeat to soothe myself.  How else would I have ‘the right’ to practice my addiction if I couldn’t somehow JUSTIFY it?

I have learned to let go & let God run my life, since I am incapable of running it properly & completely. I don’t want that burden, either.  To feel that life should be ‘fair’ is to set myself up to fall, to be angry all the time, and to STAY angry at life for no valid reason.

To feel that people should behave themselves as I would like them to is to believe that MY way is the RIGHT way. And, who am I to expect such a thing??

God, 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.

For today, I pray to accept others for who they are, and not to demand perfection or compliance with MY way.

For today, I pray to give UP ‘my way’ and accept God’s way instead.