A childhood friend of mine who I’ve recently reconnected with on Facebook recently posted a quote. Originally I thought it was something that she herself came up with, but a quick internet search (oh Google how I love thee so) revealed that it was first uttered by Theodore Roosevelt.
Now Teddy I’m sorry, but I added a line (in parentheses) because as I read the quote to myself a few times I kept hearing it spoken in my inner voice (yes I occasionally do in fact listen to the voices in my head) but I wanted to share it here because it is so simple a concept and at once so wise that I felt that I couldn’t possibly be the only person who found meaning in it.
“Do what you can
(when you can)
with what you have
where you are.”
See what I mean? Simple on face value, but as you read it a couple of times the meaning, the impact, goes quite a bit deeper.
We can only do what we can.
We are all blessed with gifts and talents that are unique.
We are all beset with pains and limitations that are unique, as well.
No one can give more than 100%.
Can most of us do more to improve ourselves, our lives, our circumstances? Probably.
But, that does not mean looking at our friends, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. and comparing our abilities and achievements to theirs. They may have a better support network, more free time, better health, more financial security. Their priorities are sure to be different, their needs as well. So trying to compare ourselves to them will never lead to satisfaction and is generally more likely to lead to frustration than inspiration.
Instead, we should spend that energy means looking at our own situation and deciding what can realistically change.
This is not necessarily about letting ourselves off easy, it is more about being forgiving of and gentle with ourselves. It speaks to giving ourselves the same benefit of the doubt, the same permission to be imperfect, that we would allow a friend, a family member, a loved one of any flavor.
Most of us live to one degree or another on a hamster wheel that requires that we keep pushing ourselves beyond the levels of our endurance of pain and exhaustion and stress.
And yes there are times when there is no choice – in times of true emergency, in times of tragedy – but it shouldn’t be an everyday lifestyle.
Because in running on our hamster wheel we lose sight of beauty, we lose out on small pleasures, we stop finding ways to feed our soul and nurture our dreams. If we run long enough we wake up one day and find our life is half (or mostly) over and we have forgotten how to truly live.
Give yourself permission to do what matters.
Give yourself permission to be imperfect.
Forgive yourself your weaknesses and recognize your strengths.
Ask the Divine as you see it to bless you with
serenity to accept what can’t be changed
courage to change what can
and the wisdom to truly know the difference
Blessings
Mama Kelly
