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My life revolves around teaching lessons of some sort. Whether it was in my role as an Elementary School Counselor for eleven years, my current role working with kiddos and administrators K-12, mom to two young adults, or owner of two spoiled chocolate labs, I teach lessons all day long. But the most valuable lessons taught on a daily basis, are those taught to me; by my students, by my children, by my dogs, and sometimes even by strangers! And that's what this blog is all about...those limitless lessons that come out of nowhere, but stay with you forever.

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The Serenity Prayer

5/4/2013

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I’m tired…really tired.  I usually write a blog post on Fridays, but today I just don’t feel it.  I had thoughts going through my mind, but it seemed too hard to find the words to put them on paper.  Since I started this blog, today was the first time I’ve ever felt this way.  I know what’s wrong, I have too much in my head.  This is a really busy time for me at work and at home and the only thoughts that seem to come into my head are just “Get me through this month.”  I feel overwhelmed and that’s when I feel the anxiety and stress creep in.  I hate when I get like this.  There are things going on in my life I have no control over and other things I have not had the courage to make the changes I need to make.  These things are weighing on me.

I want serenity.  The definition of serenity is calm and untroubled; without worry, stress, or disturbance.  Ahhhh…sounds heavenly.  A day like today always leads me back to the The Serenity Prayer I have posted over my desk.  This prayer is closely associated with 12-step programs, but it was originally written by Reinhold Niebuhr in 1943. I read it often, as I’m sure most of us do, but today I really read it.  I picked it apart; sentence by sentence, word by word.  I found new meaning in it today and it helped me.  I found some peace for the first time today.  The weight didn’t seem so heavy.  My troubles seemed not so important.

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonable happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

Maybe this will help you today.  Maybe you are having a day like mine.  Maybe you are having trouble accepting things you can’t change.  Maybe you haven’t found the courage to make changes that need to be made.  Maybe you are not living in the moment.  Maybe you find yourself in the past or in the future much too often.  Maybe you are struggling to accept the hardships that have come your way.  Maybe appreciating things the way they are is proving challenging for you.  Maybe your expectation of happiness is leaving you disappointed.  Maybe your faith in a higher power has been shaken.  Or maybe you will just print this and keep it close by for when you have one of those days.

My personal idea of serenity is lying on the beach listening to the waves crash or sitting on my porch appreciating the amazing view I have.  It’s where I feel most calm and most untroubled.  Luckily for me, I plan to spend a good portion of my summer at the beach and the remaining time doing nothing in the comfort of my home.  Where do you find serenity?  I would love to hear about it!

“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy. If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing? (136-137)”
―
Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

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