Acceptance, take two
a reclaimed blog from years ago
There is a song in the musical Rent where Maureen sings, “Take me for who I am, who I was meant to be…” Unconditional love for another means giving up our expectations for the other person.
But acceptance also means giving up our expectations for ourselves.
It means recognizing that not everyone will like us, even if they do love us.
It means realizing that sometimes relationships are so damaged that they can no longer be healthy.
Acceptance is throwing up our hands and admitting defeat. It is liberating and scary.
It is recognizing that sometimes there are consequences and casualties of being who we need to be, but that’s okay because if we are never brave enough to accept ourselves - we can never really live.
As Mary Oliver wrote in one of her poems, “One day you finally knew what you had to do and began.” (The Journey)
Acceptance is thanking God every day that I am one of the lucky ones. I am still here to begin. Too many others never got that chance and too many more are still not getting it.
Acceptance is living my life doing the best I can, even on the days when I fall down.
