I am putting up this post to send you on Wednesday, the day after the election. That’s because Thom and I are heading out of town for a few days in honor of his birthday. I think everyone is well aware that there is a lot of uncertainty happening here in the U.S. about the election right now and who knows where it will lead. It’s not clear who won, who lost and how that transition will take place. Whenever I find myself in a circumstance that is out of my control, I am reminded of the amazing Victor Frankl who in the midst of a Nazi Concentration Camp where people were being brutalized and murdered all around him he could still hold on to this freedom. No matter what the outcome of our current election, or other circumstances in our lives, we would be SMART to remind ourselves this on a regular basis.
I hope you and Thom are having a nice few days “away from it all.” Today is a good day, though. The end of tyranny and the renewal of democracy. Something positive in 2020 and reason to celebrate. I feel like I can finally breath and sleep again…
Happy b’day to Thom. Have fun on your adventure. But … I think we ALL deserve a few days off!
Kathy- this reminds me of a woman I heard on a podcast named Dr. Edith Eva Eger. She wrote a number of books, one titled The Choice. I’m about to listen to it myself but it speaks on this same idea. She sounds like an incredibly wise inspiring intelligent woman. Thought I would share.
Have fun celebrating this weekend.
Yes Kathy,
I love this quote. Today we can choose peace and calm–but no REaction.
Happy Birthday, Thom!
I wholeheartedly believe that the best present of all is just around the corner!
Happy Birthday Thom! How wonderful to get away and hopefully unplug from the chaos that is our election.
We truly have control ONLY of ourselves. Reminders of this fact are a good thing 🙂
The only thing we truly control is how we respond to things out of our control, to paraphrase Viktor Frankl. Wishing Thom a happy birthday and you both a pleasant and peaceful get-away!
Deb
Happy birthday to Thom!
When I worked with trouble kids, a lot of them had been assigned Viktor Frankl’s book in their wilderness (therapeutic) programs. I think they felt like prisoners of their situations and, even more, their moods. It was a revelation to them — a very useful one — that one could (at least to some extent) CHOOSE one’s attitude. Thanks for the reminder!