We’ve had a heck of a start to the year. At the New Year, we sent my husband off to Jamestown, NY, for the funeral of his grandmother, who passed away on Christmas Day. And this past week, my husband got surgery on his leg to get a nail out that he had shot into his leg at the beginning of December.
Persistently overwhelming seems accurate for how the first 17 days of this New Year have gone. But something I find myself leaning into is what is within my control and what is outside of it.
This is a simple coping skill that can sometimes be overlooked in favor of newer, flashier ways of processing situations. But this New Year, as I get back to Healthy Roots, I’ve chosen to remind myself of this skill often, and it’s been very helpful. Because, for much of what has happened, very little has been within my control. And by releasing those things, I find I have more energy for the things within my control.
I’ve got two energetic boys who need to get out of the house at least once a day, even just to the backyard, to play freely and get a change of scenery. I’ve got to make sure I’m eating consistently so I have energy. I can keep our routines as close as possible to provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. I can slow down, take a deep breath, and remind myself that I am one person and that some things can wait. And that is it. All the other things are there for me to still experience and encounter, but they are not within my control to reform or change.
It’s been some long days, but we all find ourselves in a season like this at one time or another. So, if you, too, are in a season where a lot is being thrown your way, I encourage you to put your energy into what is within your control and let go of what is not.
Warmly,
Kylie Larson, MA, LPC
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Find Kylie’s reading commendations by clicking here.
