A friend who blogs (more effectively and more often than I) wrote recently about circles of influence and circles of control. She spoke of an outer ring which houses the big issues that keep us up at night but which we have no control over. This might include (for me anyway) unprovoked war in Ukraine, systemic racism, Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson, etc. She calls this the circle of concern. The next circle is the circle of influence, which holds issues affecting people we care about and over which we might have some influence. The inner circle of control, which houses the things we can make some impact on. For me, this includes some educational issues (my involvement with Junior Achievement), and those charitable causes I try to help with (Ukraine, Alzheimers, Cancer, homeless pets).
I do some pro bono consulting for non-profits, and it’s both rewarding and fun. I know that my experience is useful to these non-profits and that their causes don’t go away when a crisis occurs somewhere in the world. I keep my sanity by staying focused on the circles of influence and control. Yes, I go crazy reading about racism and I read all the books I can about it, and I learn a lot. I get frustrated reading about disinformation, Qanon theory and crazies on the far right (and left)….but I stay centered on the causes I can help and influence. Sometimes a new one comes up. One of my best friends is Ukrainian (first generation in USA). He has relatives in Lviv and his worries have become my worries. His son is going across to bring medical supplies and to report on the war (yes, Vlad, it’s a fucking war). I contributed money to help him get supplies and I used some contacts I have in Europe to help my friend’s son get around once he arrives in Poland and prepares to cross the border to Ukraine. This came up and surely got my attention. I sure hope he is safe over there.
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