My New Year’s Resolution

I’m not big on new year’s resolutions, but I did set a goal for 2013. This year I want to focus on accepting the things in life that I cannot change. As I was walking my son through the neighborhood this afternoon I couldn’t get the following verses out of my head:

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.

Some things in life simply don’t change. Take people as an example. You can hope they will mature or become selfless as they age, but the truth is most of us don’t radically alter our personality traits from year to year. If you don’t like to share as a child, odds are that you won’t want to share as an adult.

Of course, I want to see the good in people, but so many times it is the bad traits that cause us heartbreak and distress.

This year I don’t want to focus on the negative. I don’t want to think that people will change. Instead I want to accept people for who they are. I want to change my reactions to their behaviors. I want to avoid the topics and interactions that cause fights to erupt and emotions to soar. Some of that will be possible and some won’t, but overall I want to limit time spent dwelling on the negative.

I thought a lot about this as I walked outside, feeling the warm sun on my face and the cold wind all around me. My son couldn’t seem to fall asleep this afternoon, so I took him out in the stroller in the hopes that the motion would help him relax. Within a few minutes he fell asleep and I looked down at his little face with red nose and bright cheeks and prayed for his future.

I hope that he gets the best parts of my husband and I. I hope that he is patient like his mother and driven like his father. I hope he is humble and compassionate. That he thinks of others, but sticks up for himself whenever necessary. I hope he is smart and kind with a good sense of humor.

As I looked down at his little cherub cheeks I couldn’t help but hope for a life full of joy and happiness.

As my son grows I know that many things will be beyond my control. I fear that the motherly worry gene will kick in and that I’ll stay up nights worrying about all sorts of things, few of which I can control. I hope to keep the serenity prayer in mind in 2013 and beyond. I want to accept that there are things in life I cannot change and also search for the wisdom to change the things I can.

I want to focus on the good in the world. I want to fill my life and the lives of those around me with joyful moments.

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