At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice. — Maya Angelou

Amid The Storm

This morning, as I was thinking about the enormous challenges that a tiny microbe has managed to throw in our collective path, my husband walked into the room and announced his intention to try to get to bed early every night. He said that this enforced slowdown could be an opportunity to develop good personal habits, ones that reinforce health, both physical and mental.

A Balance

Of course, we, along with everyone else, are confronting the harsh economic realities that this work stoppage means. Even so, as long as we remain healthy, we will count ourselves among the lucky. For a person who loves control as much as I do, it’s very difficult to accept that I am powerless in this situation, but that’s the reality. As in a riptide, it’s pointless to fight it. You must let it carry you until it stops, and only then can you find your way back to shore. I can’t control world events; all I can control (for now) are my own tiny actions and habits. Like going to bed early every night.

Surrender To What You Must

There are moments when we must all surrender to our circumstances, and this is one of them. But we must not give away all of our power.

There are moments when we must all surrender to our circumstances, and this is one of them. But we must not give away all of our power. If there is something positive you can do for yourself—like commit to a daily writing practice—this is a good moment to consider it. Eventually, we will find ourselves at the end of the riptide, and those positive habits will help us swim to shore.

As always, wishing you all the best on your writing journey.

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