May 1--And Now It Is May

If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich. --Lao-Tzu

     The theme for May in the "Daily Peace" book from which the quotes come is acceptance. We've had good practice at that for the past few weeks. As I have zoomed with family and friends over the past few weeks, I have garnered a sense that the above quote applies to most folks. They have survived, thrived even, seeing that they could adapt to big change and recognize the gifts that have come from it. To me, that is beautiful richness.
     To continue daily blogging or not? Some days I'm not so into it. I like the morning time in the woman cave with my doggie and coffee more so than the actual writing. But the creativity that has expanded so powerfully during the stay-at-home time is not something I want to slow down or lose. So I'll keep at it for now.
     I close with one of my favorite writings on acceptance, from the AA Big Book:

Acceptance is the answer to ALL of my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation--some fact of my life--unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept my life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.
Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and woman merely players." He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. A.A. and acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God's handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God. 

Acceptance is freedom.
        Leta