serenity...courage...wisdom

I cannot change how i got to this world
but i have a say in how i get out of it
I cannot change who i was before i got into this circumstance
but i have a say in who i will be when i get out of it
I cannot control who likes me and who doesn't
but i can choose to love myself beyond measure
I cannot control what opportunities I get
But I can control how prepared I am for the opportunities I am graced with
I cannot change the past
but I can change today to change tomorrow
I cannot erase the footsteps behind me
but I can change the course of the footsteps to follow
I cannot control the words and actions directed at me
But I can choose how I let them define me
I cannot change the person sitting next to me
But I can choose what I gain from my encounter with them
I cannot change the whole world
But I can influence one person positively, who can influence another, who can influence another
I cannot change my name
But I can change what it means to me
"Lord give the serenity to accept all the things that I cannot change, the courage to change those that I can... and the wisdom to know the difference"