Influence v. Concern

This is not about running, though it could be. This is not about food intake, but it could be. This isn't about my job, my family, my friends, or my enemies. But it could be all of that and more. It is about Life.
Several years ago when I was riding a train to work in Sacramento, CA, I started listening to books on tape. Yes. Tape. Not CD. Tape. One of the first books I listened to was "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by the late Stephen R. Covey. If you haven't read it yet, or haven't re-read it in a few years, I suggest that you do so. Soon. Well, AFTER you read this, of course...
I want to spend a few minutes with you today a topic that is addressed in the first chapter (Be Proactive). After explaining that being proactive "is about taking responsibility fo ryour life", he goes on to discuss the concepts of the "Circle of Concern and the Circle of Influence." I shall paraphrase...
Each of us has each 'circle'. The one of Concern encompasses the things in our life which raise our awareness, but which we have little or no control. Weather, the national debt, the cost of gas, etc. The Circle of Influence is one that contains things that we DO (or CAN) have an impact on: our health, our children, problems at work, etc.
I've been thinking about this quite a bit, and how I can apply it to all of the things up there that I said this was not about (because, of course, it is about those things...). I've been looking at what I carry around in my influence sphere that really belong either in my concern sphere, or not in any sphere at all. (Weather would be a good example, but i haven't carried that one around at all for years. i just don't care about the weather).
Although I'm not quite ready to write down my lists, I am creating them in my head and working daily to stay within my Cirlce of INFLUENCE.
I leave you with this challenge: take out a piece of paper and pencil. make two big cirles (not overlapping). start to fill each one in with influences and concerns. if you find that there are more things in your Circle of Concern than there are in your Circle of Influence, you may have just found a way to reduce some of that stress in your life.
Take charge. Be in control. Move relentlessly forward.
What say you?