“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” Jon Kabat-Zinn

This is one of my favorite quotes, and I remind myself of it often. Especially now.

I’m noticing a low-grade level of tenseness or fear. I know it’s based on nothing. Or at least nothing real. Or at least nothing current.

I could freak out. I could wonder and worry why it’s kicking up. I could get swept up in it, and allow the fear to overtake me or stop me – from living and loving and enjoying. Or I can ride the waves.

I’ve learned – I’m learning, sometimes over and over again – that I have emotional scars and engrained behavior patterns. And I’ve learned – I’m learning, sometimes over and over again – that that’s okay. I don’t have to figure them out. I don’t have to fix them. I don’t have to make them go away.

They don’t have to stop me. They don’t have to freeze me. They don’t have to define me. They just are.

And I’m so much more than that.

I think back to all the twelve-step meetings I’ve sat in over the years, and of how many of us get stuck in defining ourselves by our past, or our scars, or our fears. I’ve learned – I’m learning, sometimes over and over again – that I don’t need to do that anymore.

I can ride the waves, and even learn to enjoy the surf.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!

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