Lesson's I Need to Learn

As I watched oil prices go bonkers again today, I took a moment to step back and think about a note that a dear friend sent me many years ago. She wrote "May God grant you the courage to change the things you can change, the patience to accept the things you can't and the good sense to know the difference." My friend is no longer with us, lost to a senseless act in the early 80's. I know this wasn't her original thought, but if I could only learn to take this advice, my life would be a lot less intense.

I get fired up over many reports I read and tied up in knots over the idiocy of the world. I then step back and say this must stop and I proceed through the day trying to tackle the challenges that are within my control. How can I help some of our local businesses hire more people, can that empty building be re-used, can I help this new business get of the ground. Who is on my side and how can we make things better.

It doesn't change the problems of the world but it does in some small way help make my little corner a little better. Maybe if everyone takes this approach and tries to make their corner better and think about what helps the whole instead of how can I get ahead, we can change the things that are not under our control.

At least that helps get me through the day.