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Madrigal-YYZ's avatar

I've mentioned before that I am a recovering alcoholic (5 years sober last July!). One of the first things I was introduced to in rehab was the serenity prayer which is as follows:

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.

As someone who used to struggle with the weight of trying to solve every problem I encountered, you cannot imagine how freeing this was for me. I suddenly realized there were all kinds of things I could do little or nothing about. And so I cast them aside and focused on the rest.

So during all of this plan-demic crap, I realized it was best to just keep my mouth shut. I wasn't going to win any arguments, change any minds so why stir up things? And it's hard, especially when those close to me have been sucked into all this bullshit.

It's not all that different from seeing a friend who seems to have a drinking problem. I don't say anything. They know my story. If they want my advice they know they can ask me. But I know that when I was where they are now, there was nobody who could have convinced me to stop. I had to get there on my own and then get others to help.

So that's what I do. I am open and honest about my feelings about all of this crap if someone asks. But I don't go around telling anyone what to do. If they want advice, they know they can always ask.

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Captain Pompano's avatar

Said to my wife a couple months ago that the most depressing part of this situation is not that most people we know don't understand what is happening...but that many of them wouldn't care even if they did. It hits you hard when that sinks in.

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