The past couple of days have been very stressful here. Adversity in the parts of our lives where we have no control is the most difficult kind of stress to deal with because there is such a feeling of imbalance and impotence. And what is there really to do? It’s not as if a positive attitude can actually affect some situations. A good attitude, a willingness to work, an openness to challenge doesn’t solve all the world’s problems… it doesn’t even solve all of my problems. And there it is.

Some days all I can do is be grateful for what I do have and those things that I do have control over. And that is where I am tonight, still grateful, grateful for my life, the people and animals that love me, the people and animals that I love, my small slice of the world, and my ever present hopes for the future.

Control and discipline are two entirely different things. Control often involves coercion or force, it comes from outside. Discipline is the most brilliant road to freedom. Discipline comes from within. There are situations where control is appropriate, there are many situations where we must stand against it. We should all exercise discipline in anything and everything that we care about, always and constantly, it’s hard but its beautiful and empowering and amazing.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to learn new things, to think about things in different ways, and to have great discussions that make me stretch and grow.