Curmudgeons curmudge

April of Acceptance Daily Idea: accept that Curmudgeons curmudge.

(Editors Note: what is a Curmudgeon? It's a person who has a grouchy temperament. Like ... Oscar the Grouch. Or ... You know those two old guys in The Muppet Show? They sit in the balcony and are grouchy and insulting? Those are curmudgeons. "Curmudge" is not an actual word. Carry on.)

You cannot control the actions, reactions, emotions, or behaviour of anyone else. 

You cannot control how someone else behaves or how they treat you. 

You cannot change them. 

What you control is how much power you give to that person. A person you know to be grumpy, is going to be grumpy. Someone who has said mean things isn't going to suddenly stop saying mean things. 

A Curmudgeon will curmudge because that is their life. Not yours. Your responsibly is to decide if you want that in your life or not, and if so, how to protect yourself (and anyone who you are responsible for) from giving your own power away to that person. 

Let them grumble. You can't make them stop. You CAN choose when and how you engage. 

Another person's actions, emotions, words, and thoughts are about THEM. It is about their story. Their experience. Not yours. 

You can't change a Curmudgeon. You can only change how much of their crumudging you take on as your own. 

Be kind,

To yourself too

xo

***NOTE: "acceptance" in the context of my writing is about the belief that all living things are entitled to respect, regardless of their actions and beliefs. "Acceptance" in this context is NOT about being silent, ignoring injustices and self and others, or expecting that we can say something is okay when it isn't. In this context I am referring to the idea that we cannot control what happens around us, we can only control how to respond to those things. 

*All images are property of Fox Tales Art

**All images are available for sale with profits going to www.sheenasplace.org 

Email foxtaleskira@gmail.com for inquiries (Purchasing directly by email, even if the piece is on etsy, saves both of us money and can involve a negotiation in size and in price)

Or browse some options at 

www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FoxTalesByKira