Recently, I was reflecting on the topic of our journaling class, and one theme stood out: accepting life on life’s terms. To me, this means accepting myself—who I am and who I am not. I accept the good, the bad, and the ugly within me. I accept my peace and my anger, my size, my body, my health, my shoe size, my hair color, and everything else about me that is visible or known. Acceptance doesn’t mean I have to like everything about myself. It means I stop fighting against reality, stop complaining, and stop criticizing myself. Acceptance is about acknowledging the truth as it is and then deciding where to make changes. Beating myself up doesn’t change anything; it only leaves me feeling worse. But when I accept myself as I am, I can focus my energy on the things I can improve. This concept extends beyond me—it applies to accepting life itself. Life doesn’t always hand us what we want, and we don’t have to like it. But by accepting it as it happens, we give ourselves the power to respond. When we stop fighting against life, pretending it isn’t real, or endlessly complaining, we can find a path forward. Complaining without action drains us, leaves us feeling helpless, and harms our well-being. But acceptance restores our energy and gives us room to act. Acceptance brings peace. When we accept what happens in life, we find peace. When we accept ourselves—flaws and all—we find peace. Fighting against life or raging against circumstances doesn’t change the situation; it only hurts us. We have choices: we can accept it, we can work to change it, or we can rage against it. Getting upset, angry, or worried only harms us—not what caused the upset. Sometimes, we can do something: we can change laws, politics, or our own behavior. Other times, we must accept life as it is and seek the lessons within it. Life’s challenges can teach us patience, resilience, and growth. You can’t live a full life if you only accept the good and ignore the difficult parts. The struggles—the things we don’t like—are often the very things that help us grow. And when we grow, those challenges transform into gifts. Of course, there are times when we can’t change a situation. In those moments, acceptance teaches us tolerance, endurance, and stamina. It isn’t easy, but it builds the foundation for patience. Meditation, for example, can help us let go of anger, criticism, and the need to complain. I’ve learned this lesson personally. For many years, I was angry at my mom for not protecting me from my uncle. I believed she must have known what was happening, and I held onto that anger. But fifty years later, during a personal growth program, I was challenged to let go. The instructor said, “If you are alive and breathing today, your parents did their job. You need to thank them.” I resisted at first. I didn’t want to thank my mom. But I’d invested in the course, so I took the advice and called her. That conversation changed my perspective. I heard her story, her truth. At twenty-two, my mom was overwhelmed—raising three children under five, with my dad working nights and attending college during the day. The two people she relied on for help had both died, and she felt abandoned. She believed she was failing. When I thought about myself at twenty-two, I realized how hard her situation must have been. In that moment, I accepted her—who she was and who she was not. I could have held onto my anger and pain, but it only hurt me. By choosing to accept her, I found empathy, peace, and a path to rebuild our relationship. Today, we have a good connection, and I know she never knew what was happening. To put this philosophy into practice, start by listening to yourself: What do you complain about? What makes you rage? What are you angry about? Accept what happened, then decide how to grow from it. Complaining keeps you stuck, but acceptance opens the door to growth and transformation. You always have a choice. Whatever is causing you pain or anger can be reframed as a learning opportunity—a chance to grow and strengthen yourself. This approach is not only more productive, but it’s also kinder to your mind, body, and spirit. Life’s challenges teach us how to navigate, how to endure, and how to appreciate the good when it comes. Sometimes, the very things that hurt us the most turn out to be the greatest gifts. Be good to yourself.