For me, life is a choice not an argument. I have foresworn a life of security. I am not doing many of the things our society tells me I should be doing. I am not accepting conventional notions of health care. I do not have a pension or money in IRA’s. My income is unpredictable, like that of almost all writers and artists, even successful ones. I even – gasp – post my presents to Maria on Facebook before I give them to her.

I am learning to accept myself and my choices.I have no right to lament my life, or tell my struggle stories, or seek sympathy for my troubles. I do not follow their news, or join in a political system that has nothing to do with me. I will not blame Wall Street or scummy corporations or Republicans or Democrats or Presidents for my life. I am responsible for it.  I do not accept that I must be angry about the left or the right, nor do I believe the world is an awful place going to seed. I will not allow grieving or misery or complaint to dominate my life.

I accept my life. This is the life I have chosen to lead, and worked for, and I love every day of it. Life makes its own choices, and trouble finds me as it finds you. I have not chosen a perfect life, but instead  an authentic one. How can I live an authentic life if you follow the advice of others and let people outside of our life make your decisions? How can I live in a meaningful life if it is shaped by a culture of  fear, anger, or obligation.

If if frightens me, it is not a good thing for me. It if is offered me in anger or judgement, then I choose another way. I accept myself. I am not better or worse than you, but in almost every way, the same. My life is not a series of arguments, but choices. I accept it, with gratitude.