Take Care of Your Side of the Street
Within the last year, I've had a couple of business situations that didn't end the way I had hoped.
My first reaction was disappointment.
Then came the second-guessing.
I replayed conversations in my mind, wondered what I could have done differently, and found myself spending too much energy trying to understand why things unfolded the way they did.
Then I was reminded of something I've learned through recovery that has served me well for many years:
Take care of your side of the street.
It's a simple phrase, but it carries a lot of wisdom.
I can't control someone else's decisions, opinions, or circumstances. I can't know every influence behind the choices they make.
What I can do is honestly examine my own actions.
Did I communicate clearly?
Did I listen well?
Were my expectations reasonable?
Did I set healthy boundaries while remaining compassionate?
Those are the questions that help me grow. Everything else is largely outside my control.
As I reflected on these recent situations, I realized the people involved are genuinely good people doing the best they can, just as I am. We may not have reached the outcome I hoped for, but that doesn't diminish my respect for them or my gratitude for the opportunity to have worked together.
One of the greatest gifts I've received in recovery is learning to let go of what I can't control and focus my energy on becoming a better version of myself.
I've found that when I take care of my side of the street, peace usually isn't far behind.
-Tony
