It’s impossible – those dreams we have and the ideals we want to live up to – those things which we know we ought to do but don’t do. And knowing we deliberately avoid these things says something – that we know what we are avoiding and make other poorer choices. Well, our choices now may lead to problems later.
Guide The Citizens
Born in the storm
Of mighty wind howling, the baby awakes
The tempest rages while parents rejoice
The room weeps for another
Unwitting form
In our neighborhoods
We know the usual but not another’s
We decorate our yards in comparison
One-upmanship reigns
Others starve
The world’s tyrannies
Shout across the oceans at others blame
We, secure in our righteousness
Change our attention
Another one dies
This planet our home
Cries in pain we cause deliberately
It looks beyond yet lives within
Asks the heavens
Guide the citizens
A Couple of Christmas Ideas
I’m sure you’ve seen them: 10 Great Christmas Gifts, 5 Things to Do With Your Family, 1001 Great Christmas Quotes. Of course, I’ve made those up (maybe they exist, but that’s not my point.) We all fall for the 5 or 10 step programs, ideas, gifts…whatever. So I decided to not do that. Here are just a couple of ideas about Christmas.
Wisdom and Wrinkles
What life I wonder did you have,
As you your past do view?
Seams and crevasses are your lot,
Your life is nearly through.
Wrinkles have your face possessed,
And crows have walked upon.
Gone is freshness of your youth,
Your smile is nearly gone.
Life you thought would never end,
Those many years ago.
But pass it does and oh so swift,
Tis past before you know.
But something more I yet do see,
Looking through the folds.
It’s something only you can have,
That only you could hold.
Now I know! I see it clear,
I’ve found it in your eyes.
Wisdom’s there, its shining forth,
Claimed by a thousand cries.
Wisdom and wrinkles, I see them there,
Not one but two make you.
You’ve led your life and now be blessed,
I see the inner you.
But now I wonder of my own life,
For your age I do aspire.
Will I the same as you do look,
And have same inner fire?
In This Moment, What Can You Do?
You Could’ve – You Debated – You Didn’t
Don’t you just love it when a great idea or opportunity comes along, you overthink it, and then you let it go? You’ve talked yourself out of it; a one-time thing that is forever gone. And then you always wonder what would have happened if you had only taken the chance and did it?
That happened to me 35 years ago, and I’ve always wondered what could have happened to me, where would I be today if I had made a different choice. At the time, I had to choose between a basketball scholarship and a job that would make me more money over the long run. Guess what I chose? More on that later.
If I Didn’t Have To Guess About Life
I wouldn’t have to guess if I’m loved
I wouldn’t have to guess if there’s a God…or a Source…or a Living Universe
Or whatever is out there, that I want in here
If I didn’t have to guess about life
I wouldn’t have to wander the streets alone
I wouldn’t have to guess if others knew I was alive
And knew that they passed me by
If I didn’t have to guess – but just knew
I could cast away my doubts
I could be more
I could achieve more
I could have more
I could love, because I wasn’t so busy guessing
But I’m left guessing
Left wondering
Left doubting
Left less secure
Left second-guessing myself
Left alone with my unanswered questions
But why must I guess?
Why must I seek?
Why must I feel alone among many?
Because to guess, to ask, to want
Is the way there from here
That Foggy Future We Don’t Know
“I watch people fade into the fog of their future as I gaze unknowingly into the haze of mine.”
Ah, the future. What to do? How to choose? I want to be successful. Will I be? Will I be happy, have the things I want, live a good life? Being rich and famous would solve everything, right? Or maybe, for those of you who know the song, it’s an attitude of “Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be.”
I’m sure most of you have heard the phrase, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Great advice – if you’re feeling tough. Not so great when you’re second-guessing and flip-flopping over every decision because you’re afraid of making the wrong one, so you don’t make any (which is a decision, by the way).