[2022-01-30] What I can control
I am saddened, frightened and disappointed by the events occurring in Ottawa this weekend. I will not spell them out here, as I do not wish to draw further attention to them.
This evening, I found myself searching for strategies to cope when life feels out of control. I came across a few lists of things that are within my control and put together this version.
Things I can control
- My words
- My beliefs
- My attitude
- My thoughts
- My reactions
- My perspective
- What I focus on
- How honest I am
- What books I read
- Who my friends are
- How often I exercise
- The type of food I eat
- How many risks I take
- When I listen to others
- How kind I am to myself
- How kind I am to others
- How I interpret situations
- How I express my feelings
- What goals I set for myself
- How often I say "I love you"
- How often I say "thank you"
- Whether or not I ask for help
- How often I practice gratitude
- Which organizations I support
- How many times I smile today
- Whether or not I keep my word
- The amount of effort I put forth
- How often I think about my past
- How I spend or invest my money
- How much time I spend worrying
- Whether or not I judge other people
- How much I appreciate the things I have
- Whether or not I try again after a setback
In keeping with #24, I decided to make a donation to The Terry Fox Foundation tonight. As I've tried to do throughout my cancer journey, I made this choice to try to turn vinegar into vinaigrette. That is within my control.
Terry Fox was an angel in our midst. Since he began his Marathon of Hope in 1980, more than $850 million has been raised in his name. The thank you letter I received in response to my contribution this evening stated: "By making a donation, you are part of a national movement honouring the vision and spirit of an iconic Canadian while raising critical funds for cancer research." This is the kind of movement I want to be part of.
