this post was submitted on 29 Feb 2024
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[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 240 points 8 months ago (19 children)

"I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept."

  • Angela Davis, for those who didn't know the reference
[–] Valmond@lemmy.mindoki.com 7 points 8 months ago (6 children)

So what is that supposed to mean?

Changing everything you can't change?

What does "not accepting those things you cannot change", means? It feels somehow like very self centered gibberish.

Please enlighten me.

[–] jeremyparker@programming.dev 33 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

You're being downvoted because people people think you're being obtuse, but, as a person that overuses logical thinking to a diagnosable degree, my suspicion is that you're doing that. Also because your tone is kind of...not good.

The whole point of the Serenity Prayer ("accept the things I cannot change") is that it includes "change the things I can" -- so the things Davis is changing are things she CAN change, by definition.

But her point is that she is reframing what she believes she can and cannot change. Recategorizing, if you will.

She's invoking the third part of the Serenity Prayer: the wisdom to know the difference. As we grow and learn, our wisdom increases, so the things that belong in the first two categories will shift.

Things that used to be things that can't be changed are becoming things that she can.

To understand the quote, you just have to give it some space to breathe, and not be so logical about it.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.mindoki.com 10 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Correct analysis 😁 too much logic made it non understandable (I'm not familiar with the prayer so that didn't help either).

Thanks for the rundown!

[–] jeremyparker@programming.dev 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Yeah, the Serenity Prayer context might help.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can't change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference

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