What Can We Control

Lately it seems like the world is losing its collective mind. North Korea wants to pick a fight with nuclear weapons, protesters get mowed down by a fool in his car, nonstop criticism of the presidency, even here at home we have flooded lakes and people being arrested for having sex with dogs (not making that up). 

It feels like only a fraction of a small percentage of our lives are actually within our control. 

It may rain nuclear warheads tomorrow. We may get mowed down by a nut in his car while walking down a sidewalk. Who knows???

In recent year’s I’ve tried to focus on that little percentage that I can control, but more importantly to focus on how I react to the numerous things I can’t control. 

I voted, but I certainly didn’t influence the outcome of any election. I can barely point North Korea out on a map. 

In most cases, I try to tune it out. There’s little I can do to stop a child like dictator from turning my city into a parking lot. The president, congress, and any elected official? No secret that no on in those groups cares that I’m alive. 

But would I allow those things to drive me to hatred or to mistreat other people? Would I burn a building or beat someone up or steal because I’m mad at the world. 

Hell no! 

I’m not a mindless drone. I control my reaction to things, even the outrageous one’s. There is no “i had to beat him up because he disagreed with me”. 

Rubbish (as they would say in the old days). 

It’s time for people to grow up, accept responsibility for their actions, and to stop making excuses. 

You don’t get to burn a building, kill people, or act like an idiot because you disagree with someone, or because you don’t get your way. 

Humans have been around too long to be acting like this.