Gee…why didn’t anyone ever tell me that?
Today’s wicked weather (and confirmed EF2 tornado!) that shut down most of our amazing transit system and flooded out many homes and streets is actually a wonderful reminder. Now I know this is something most of you have already learned. And we here in New York City, of all places, surely should know this by now. But I still need a refresher course now and then. I kind of forget. I think we all do.
We can’t control anything. We can’t control anything. We can’t control anything.
I guess all we can do is just do our best and take what comes. And then, whatever comes, we just do our best some more. And I think in between we have to find the humor and joy in life and embrace every moment when things are pretty good. And dance with gusto when things are great! And not sweat the stuff we can’t control the rest of the time.
Actually, I gotta tell you…that’s a huge relief. I just can’t take the awesome responsibility of fixing the whole world any more. I’m finally starting to see I have to let it go. Well…at least some of it. (-;
Not that I still won’t speak out and take on things around me where I can make a difference. That’s a joyful thing – as long as I understand that the outcome isn’t all on me and that I couldn’t possibly know everything needed anyway. But at least I know the weight of making it ALL better day in and day out – whatever my eyes or ears land on – is no longer on my shoulders.
Whew!
You Can’t Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones (But if you try sometimes, you might just find…you get what you need!)
August 8, 2007 at 5:57 pm |
LOL
I so hear you. I posted last Saturday about something a friend and advisor said (she’s been in the metaphysical realm for over 30 years.) She says to me, as she’s doing a reading, “You know what I’ve learned, Grace? It’s all B.S. All of it. Just follow your bliss”. 
I’m working on that now.
August 8, 2007 at 6:05 pm |
Laughing big time! She’s so right. We spend so much time in our heads trying to figure this whole a-maze-ing thing out…and we still know nuthin’…and control even less. I run from people who tell me they have THE ANSWER. Come to me when you have THE QUESTION and I might listen. And then again, I might now. Trusting your heart and letting it take you where you truly want to go (no matter how many excuses your brain manufactures to “protect” you) is a marvelous path.
Thanks for the great comment, Grace. I’m sending you a big hug. All the best in your vision quest! When we stop trying to fill in all the spaces ourselves and just follow our bliss, the universe often sends us wonderful stuff we never could have imagined ourself. Please let me know how it goes!
August 9, 2007 at 2:22 am |
I didn’t realize you had a tornado in NYC. I’m in the Finger Lakes region and all we got was a bit of rain and some wind, but not much.
Ain’t it nice being powerless about some things? (Note I said *some* things.) I’m a believer that we do indeed posess some forms of power and we do have some control over some things.
I’m a huge fan of letting things go though – it’s a great sense of freedom when I finally find …… the power…….. to let go.
Thanks for the great post!
~ RubyShooZ ~
Peace, love and understanding.
August 9, 2007 at 8:27 am |
Great post. Nope can’t control everything. Our scope of control is powerful, yet limited. Can’t always get what you want. Sometimes you can’t even get what you need.
Sometimes it is all we can do just to weather whatever kind of storms life brings our way. Weather through it as best we can and then help someone else weather through and share our lessons in self-preservation.
You reminded me of my previous Tag Line. “We are all seeking the answers on life’s perpetual quest. Perhaps we have the answer, we just don’t know the question.”
A day or two ago I put something else there instead. Should I put it back? Perhaps so. What doya think?
Thank you for being here so that we can weather and muddle through this thing called life together.
With Lotsa Love, MW
August 9, 2007 at 12:33 pm |
Hi RubyShooz! I’m originally from upstate New York, but not as far upstate as you. Finger Lakes region is beautiful! And yes…we sure did get a tornado here in Brooklyn. I’m grateful it missed my neighborhood, but I’m sure the people who looked out and saw a funnel cloud in NYC were pretty darn amazed. Thanks for the comment.
I believe we have a TON of power…we just can’t control more than about .001% of anything in our lives. OK. I’m making up the number, but when you think of all that happens autonomically in our bodies and all that goes on to make the world around us what it is, our need to control everything seems pretty silly. But yes…of course…we can do a lot. Just, in the end, we can’t control the outcomes. Or what anyone else does. We can only control what we choose to do. But that’s a lot. Please forgive my use of literary license. (-;
Hi MW! Good to see you. Thanks for the lovely comment. Nice weather metaphor. You’re so right. As for the disappearing tag line on your post…I thought I saw it somewhere but couldn’t find it. I bet one day you’ll be moved to write something and it will pop back into your head…without you having to do anything. (-; How’s that for sticking to a theme?
August 9, 2007 at 6:37 pm |
No, it wasn’t in my post. “We are all seeking the answers on life’s perpetual quest. Perhaps we have the answer, we just don’t know the question,” was the Tagline on my blog…it was the subtitle underneath my main title. I changed it to the quote I have there now by Thich Nhat Hanh, but perhaps I will put my former one back for a while. I like changing them now and again.
August 9, 2007 at 7:50 pm |
Ah! One thing you can control. (-;
August 10, 2007 at 12:40 pm |
How terrifying! Of course we are glad it wasn’t near you, but not happy it was near anyone!
August 10, 2007 at 12:47 pm |
Thanks, SE. So many things we can’t control. The amazing thing is how life goes on anyway. It sure makes me appreciate the good times – and lovely people – even more!