Suffering is Optional

“The only thing you really control is how you react to things out of your control.” ~ Bassam Tarazi 

This week’s quote is for all the people who are currently suffering from the wildfire smoke. Having made it all the way through the summer without much fire activity, you might have thought that the worst was behind us. However, considering the gray, apocalyptic skies that we have experienced lately, it appears that fire season is very much back.

With the return of the smoke comes the familiar feelings of sadness, worry and desperation. One of the most stressful parts of having a wildfire burning nearby is the feeling of powerlessness- the sense that you don’t have any control over what is happening. Wildfires are literally burning out of control and, unless you are a firefighter, there is really nothing you can do to stop them. However, according to Bassam Tarazi, even though life is unpredictable, suffering is still optional. You can’t really prevent bad things from happening in life, the only thing you can control is the way you react when they do. 

So, what can you do to get through these difficult times? The best advice we can offer at this time is to focus on taking care of yourself. Take a long bath, get a massage, practice yoga- do the all the things that bring you into grounded, conscious alignment with your Source. If you can't go outside due to poor air quality, remember that you can always go inside by practicing meditation. On clear days, make it a priority to enjoy the sunshine and blue sky. Finally, try to breathe deeply and fully whenever possible, savoring the luxury of breathing clean, fresh air when it's available to you.