What I can control

I've been fairly quiet of late. There is a lot going on in my personal life that has derailed my writing. Most of which I have no power to change. I've been doing a lot of moping and negative self-talk until a friend pointed out that feeding negativity with negativity is a bad thing.

I know this.

I also know that what control we think we have over major events in our lives is simply illusion.

And yet, I get caught up in the drama of it all.

What I can control is how I react. Spending time feeling sorry for myself isn't helpful. Yes, both my parents are dealing with major medical issues. Yes, I live 2,000 miles away from them. Yes, my husband's job situation is extremely stressful right now. Yes, I am still collecting rejection slips for novel queries.

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

All those things are happening outside my control. I can sit here and weep or moan about them, or take the dog for a walk in the snow and none of those things will change as a result.

But if I *choose* to walk the dog, then I am choosing something that affirms life, that lifts my spirits, that may lift someone else's if I happen to smile at a fellow traveler.

Today, I finalized a collection of poems I will give to friends and family as a gift.

Today I sent three different short stories out to three potential markets. If they come back, unsold, I will send them out again, to other markets.

I can act. I can move forward.