This not a new idea.  It continues to be taught by spiritual leaders, recovery groups and motivation speakers because it works.

I accept that at 75 years of age, I may never ski a racecourse again.  COVID-19 has reduced my access to quality health care.  I may be wearing a face mask for the foreseeable future when leaving the relative safety of Mirador.  I accept that my pursuit of a long and healthy life can mean increased loneliness as I outlive friends and relatives.

Acceptance is sometimes equated to powerlessness.  But it doesn’t have to be.  I might be powerless over people, places and things, but don’t have to be a doormat.  I don’t have to let people and events walk over me.  What I can control is how I react.  Maybe I can’t ski the expert  runs anymore, but I can relive those experience through photos.  I may be outliving old friends, but Mirador is full of people eager to form new friendships.  I can learn new skills such as Facebook and Zoom in order to maintain contact with friends and relatives.  Even COVID can be “managed” by following safe practices.

Acceptance doesn’t have to mean powerlessness and living like a hermit.  It does mean taking control where I can and avoiding uncontrollable situations where possible.

Finally, to quote an unknown philosopher, “Serenity is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.”