Phew! Things are pretty wild out there right now. Between the aftermath of Hurricane Helene (I still can’t fully wrap my brain around the destruction and devastation) and the U.S. elections inching closer, emotions are running high. There’s a lot of energy — anger, frustration, fear — and more than a few moments of “What in the world is happening?!” And let’s face it, we can’t control any of it. We can’t change the weather, we can’t dictate how others feel, and we certainly can’t control anyone’s political opinions.
But here’s the thing — we can control our response. Lately, I’ve been finding that gratitude is my anchor. Now, I’m not one of those people who effortlessly starts their day with a gratitude journal. Most mornings, I’m rolling out of bed at 5 a.m., just trying to make it to the gym in one piece. But in those quiet moments—like in the shower—I’ve started reflecting on the simple things: clean, running water. A dry home. Food in the fridge. My family, safe and sound. It’s easy to overlook, but these small things remind me of what’s going right in a world that can feel like it’s spinning out of control.
As for the political scene, I’ve realized that it’s better for my sanity to just scroll on by rather than get sucked into the social media whirlpool. It’s hard sometimes, especially when certain posts really push my buttons, but I know that diving in won’t do me any good. We all have different views, and that’s okay. As much as I might disagree, I’m choosing to let it go and not get caught up in the drama. People are gonna people, and that’s out of my control!
At the end of the day, it’s about narrowing your focus to what’s in your hands, not what’s happening around you. And I think that’s where the power really lies.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
~Viktor Frankl