“You are what your deep, driving desire is."
Wrap it up, cushioned
against damage from handling.
Hide the tender beat
from pain not lived
(but just in case it comes).
Protect it.
Massage it.
Handle with care.
And then safely look out,
with caution hold tightly
to the package you guard.
Slip through the world
hoping you never
need to unwrap
your heart to love.
Beyond the trappings of life are other things to be gained. Go deep in your search. Answers await the seeking heart.
I think we all try to live up to the expectations of society: the career, the family, the house, and the stuff. This is all fine but far too often we forget that our inner needs are greater than our outer needs.
“I am good.” Say this today, even when you think otherwise. Know you are good – it matters.
I’ve written about negative self-talk before and how it harms who we are wishing to become. I think it’s important to remind ourselves that we are good people. But it’s so easy to listen to the wrong voice.
When we keep putting ourselves down we remind ourselves that we are not good and wonder how anyone could possibly like us. And then we get into this repeating cycle and bury ourselves deeper and deeper into despondency.
Her neck jiggled with each chuckle
topped by ill-fitting teeth.
Six whirling children excited
quaint Aunt Edna.
Cat hair flung all over the messy room,
a room soaked in warmth
wanting echoes of screaming children
delighting in freedom.
Melted chocolate chips wafting.
Cookies cooling on the counter.
Six-year-old fingers juggle heat
and then feast with the cat in secret.
Warm arms, pillowy bosom
(not found at home).
Sink into warmth
Of love long needed.
In the scatter lived a safe place
that welcomed uncertain children
with a gentle, flavored air,
pulsing with Aunt Edna’s aroma.
As we look forward to what might come in the New Year, even the New decade, I think it’s important that we remember to stay true to the self we know we are inside.
Too often we let other people and external events dictate our path and decide what we should do. I think it’s important that we know what we value, what we believe, and remain true to those, regardless of external pressures.
Act on your dreams. Be bold in your actions. Some will be suspicious but do it anyway.
Far too many times we hide who we really are and who we want to be. We have these grand thoughts of what we would like to do but we cover them up, push them deep down inside ourselves because they might go against “the norm.”
We think others might ridicule or scorn us for these dreams or for the way we would like to live. And, most importantly I think, we hide what we truly believe about life, especially spirituality.
Be still and know that who you are today and what you have now is sufficient, but not finished.
Far too often we’re not satisfied with where we are and what we have. It seems we’re always searching for something more, something in the future that we think we must have in order to be satisfied and happy.
Twas a night around Christmas and all through my shack,
not a critter was stirring, not even this quack.
My wool sock were all tethered to the chimney with twine
cuz I knew that old Santa liked to wear mine.
[Read more…] about A Night Around Christmas by Isaac