My life has taken a turn…not a turn for the worse, as the saying goes…just a turn. When my life feels out of control like this I tend to make lists. All sorts of list. To-do lists, grocery lists, financial planning lists, favorite 80s movies lists…you get the picture. This is supposed to order my life. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. If there is a list then I have control during a time of uncertainty…right? No, the truth is we never have total control over life’s little unexpected happenings. Although I believe everyone has the ability to control one’s own actions, I have yet to master the ability to control the actions of others (and believe me I’ve tried).
So, what is there left to do? Well, surrender for one. And for two, write a list of things you are thankful for. I have been doing this for two weeks and find it to be a very calming ritual. Some shrink out there is probably nodding, agreeing with my practice. I have no idea whether or not it’s a clinically sound habit for the overly anxious (among which I would place myself), but it truly works for me.
Here’s a few of my “thankful” things:
daughter’s health fitting into old jeans
fuzzy socks pink pen
Midori making cupckaes
hot water cold water
snickers shade of a tree on a sunny day
rainy day speeches from the Kremlin online
As you can see, my “thankful” things are not always profound, but on any given day something reminding myself of simple things makes me smile and calms my restless mind.
