This is happening

Owner

Brian Rumao

October 29, 2025

Accept—then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.

Eckhart Tolle

One of my favorite sayings came from a dear friend: This is happening, how can I bring my love to it? Some context: I tend to struggle with aversion. Resisting reality, believing it shouldn’t be this way. This shouldn’t be happening. It’s of course a recipe for suffering, misery, unpleasant feelings and sometimes the related undesired behaviors.

So my friend recommended this mantra anytime I find myself in a situation where I can’t believe what is going on (as a single parent with two young kids, this is more often than I would admit or like). And I will say, it works.

The first part, a reminder to welcome reality. This is happening whether I like it or not. I cannot change the past. This moment is inevitable. The second part, an invitation to bring my wisdom and love (understanding, acceptance, embrace), with a heaping dose of patience. A reminder that I can now choose how I want to respond, and the easiest and most effective way is to give my love.