Category: Personal Responsibility

NaPoWriMo Day Twenty-Two

On By WinstonIn Environment, NaPoWriMo, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Values3 Comments

For those who hadn’t heard, today is Earth Day.  This is the one day each year when we’re supposed to put away our rampant consumerism and give a crap about the planet we live on.  Seems to me that it might need more than one day a year.  Maybe that’s just me.

Thoughts On The Occaission Of Earth Day.

Earth Day today but what’s that mean?
Can one day save the world?
Now really can this day we claim,
Undo the the filth we’ve hurled?

We say we want to change the world,
But that impulse will pass.
We celebrate the earth today,
Tomorrow frack some gas.

We bemoan the latest oil spill,
As we fill up our cars.
Then drive away beneath the smog,
Say how we miss the stars.

We build our subdivisions on,
The best farmland around.
And then complain that fresh produce,
Costs so much by the pound.

Our kids and grandkids pay the price,
For what we do today.
If we don’t change the way we live,
A price too high to pay.

I am no better than the rest,
As I stand here and preach.
We all must change myself as well,
That is the truth I’d teach.

If you would change the world, first change yourself.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day Twenty-One

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

I have a hard time letting go of things.  To those who know me, feel free to not comment. At any rate, I have decided it’s time to take steps with another of my bad habits. 

Enjoy!

Less Toys…. More Joys

Somewhere out there away from here,
Is where we want to be.
To leave our troubles far behind,
We want to be set free.

Away from work and daily chores,
Away from all life’s ills,
To live with only what we need,
No massive monthly bills,

If only we could let it go,
How simple then our life.
It’s time for me to simplify,
To focus in my wife.

At last now after all these years,
I see that more is less.
Reducing clutter now should help,
Us to reduce our stress.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day Nineteen

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Discrimation, Enlightenment, Global Issues, NaPoWriMo, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

I realize that I am part of that group of people referred to as “the chattering classes”.  I sit and write about all the things I see, but I don’t actually do anything to change them.  This is about me and all the others like me.

Enough To Make You….

I sat and read the news today
The world scrolling by.
Mans’ inhumanity to man,
Enough to make you cry.

The murders are quite bad enough,
The wars more horror still.
The famines, rapes, and plundering,
Enough to make you ill.

Anti-gay bills and rights denied,
More vile than they seem.
Enforced values on someone else,
Enough to make you scream.

What do I do about these crimes?
Like you they make me sad.
But just like most I do nothing,
Enough to make you mad.

So if you look around the world,
And find compassion lacked.
I hope the outrage that you feel’s,
Enough to make you act.

If you don’t like the news….. Change The World, Not The Channel!

Cheers, Winston

Do Your Parenting Yourself

On By WinstonIn Film Reviews, Media, Movies, Personal Responsibility, Pop Culture, Society1 Comment

Tim Winter, who is apparently the president of the grandly named “Parents Television Council” recently wrote an article for Fox News.com. In his article, Mr Winter decries the failure of the movie rating system. I almost agree with him. Almost.

I agree that you can’t base viewing decisions on something as vague as PG-13 rating. This is particularly true if you don’t understand the ratings system. In the article, he complains that “The King’s Speech” received a worse rating than “Drag Me To Hell”. Here’s the reason. Most people understand that “Drag Me To Hell” isn’t based on reality. It’s also a morality play. Bad things happen to the bad person. Ratings boards LOVE morality plays. They will put up with a lot of questionable content if there is a clear and simple moral lesson. In this case, the message is: don’t willfully hurt others to get ahead. Not to spoil the movie, but the main character does just that and the rest of the movie revolves around their punishment.

“The King’s Speech” on the other hand is based firmly in reality. It is about King George the fifth learning to overcome his stutter so that he could address his people via radio during World War Two. Because it’s a real story about real people, there are no easy moral lessons. During the movie the King s speech therapist has him use profanity as part of an exercise. Being real people, specifically the King of England, there is a much greater likelihood of impressionable people emulating the language. The great irony of course arises because I doubt if anyone of an impressionable age was likely to watch that particular movie. Nonetheless, that’s the thinking behind the ratings on the two movies.

He also complains about ratings creep. This is the tendency of ratings standards to become more lax over time. This is a very real phenomenon and reflects the cultural evolution within our society. Profanity, sexuality, and violence have become more prominent in society and it’s unrealistic to expect our entertainment and the standards to which it’s held not to evolve with it.

Ultimately, it’s up to the parents to teach their children about how to judge what they’re going to watch. In my case, this meant watching movies either before or with my daughter. I watched a lot of things I didn’t really want to, but it’s the commitment I made to her. It was my way of protecting her from the worst of what was out there and giving her the tools to make her own decisions instead of relying on the ratings on the box.

I guess my message is this…. Don’t let some stranger decide what’s right for your kids. Do your parenting yourself.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day:28 My Simple Life

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

In many ways, I’m more likely to take life as it comes rather than try to make it into anything particular. Sometimes this works out well… sometimes not so much.

Enjoy!

My Simple Life

I don’t suppose that writing this
Will help you understand.
The life I’ve lived, the things I’ve done
Well none of it’s been planned.

I’m not the one to look ahead
And see what must be done.
I just keep going day by day
And try to have some fun.

Sometimes it works out really good
But sometimes not so well.
Sometimes you land in paradise
Sometimes it’s more like Hell.

I guess that what I’d like to say
Is thanks for all the best.
And I’m so sorry that you’ve had
To deal with all the rest.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day:24 The Dragon And The Boy

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal Responsibility, ValuesLeave a comment

A poem about a dragon, a boy, and how not eating visiting adolescents can actually make a dragon’s life easier… also, real heroes don’t steal dragon treasure.

Enjoy!

The Dragon And The Boy

The dragon sleeps upon his hoard
Beneath a mountain old.
While every town breeds heroes who
Would seize the dragon’s gold.

So every year in summertime
Some fool comes out to try.
They come for glory or for gold
But all come but to die.

A boy lives in a nearby town
In poverty and woe.
He knows to save his people he
Must to the mountain go.

He seeks no glory and no fame
It’s not a path he’d choose.
But famine stalks the ones he loves
He’s nothing left to lose.

He is quite young still just a lad
But fear, he knows it not.
He’s seen such horrors innocence
Is something long forgot.

He travels on through day and night
At last he nears his goal.
There high upon the mountainside
An ancient, ebon hole.

As he climbs toward the lair
He takes a look around.
He sees that bones, half melted blades
Lie scattered on the ground.

The dragon stirs and lumbers out
From his bejeweled lair.
For he has sensed the boys approach
Up steep and final stair.

The boy has reached the place he sought
Prepares to face his fate.
He has not come to slay the beast
No lust for gold to sate.

The dragon steps into the sun
And stares down at the child.
He is intrigued and when he speaks
He tries to sound more mild.

“What brings you to my door young one?
Speak true or you shall die.”
“Oh dragon great I bring a gift.”
Is his shocking reply.

The child then extends his hand
And there for all to see.
A simple copper coin is what
His offering would be.

“In my town all are starving sir.
This coin our only one.
I do not seek your pity for
I know that you have none.

Just take the coin, it is not much
Please add it to your horde.
If years from now you look at it
Remember us my lord.”

The dragon thinks then he replies,
“I’ll honor your request.
But I would ask a boon as well.
I know you’ll do your best.

Please wait right here, I’ll be right back
There’s something I must get.”
He goes inside, brings back a chest
Which on a rock he set.

“Inside is all the coin you need
To make your small town great.
And all I ask is that you spread
The tale of your fate.”

The boy is so amazed that he
Gapes up at him in awe.
Sees finally the ancient scars
Some wounds still fresh and raw.

He weeps to see this ancient beast
Has suffered so much pain.
He vows to do his best to see
It never will again.

He takes the chest and journeys back
And saves his town so dear.
They aid the other towns around
Save them from doom so clear.

A boy lived in a nearby town
Has now become a man.
He’s keeps his oath and tells his tale
To everyone he can.

Those who were saved form Dragonguards
They ring the mountains round.
No weapons are allowed within
For that is dragon ground.

The dragon sleeps upon his hoard
Beneath the sun so bold.
While nearby towns breed heroes who
Still guard the dragon’s gold.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day:22 Spare A Thought

On By WinstonIn Environment, Global Issues, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal Responsibility, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My 22nd NaPoWriMo effort is in honor of Earth Day.

Earth Day

A vernal warmth is on the land
As round the seasons go.
On this small world we call Earth
The only home we know.

She gives to us all that we need
Trash is all we give back.
The water’s dead, the soil too
The very sky is black.

We take so much then take some more
We take until we die.
Well what if we gave back instead
At least we ought to try.

Try taking less reusing more
Perfection’s not the goal.
For every single, smallest thing
Helps heal her wounded soul.

Plant some flowers or plant a tree
Put feeders in your yard.
Leave the car and take a walk
It’s really not that hard.

The Earth she needs your help my friend
She needs your help to heal.
It’s easier to just not look.
That won’t make it less real.

So won’t you please come work with us?
The time is now at hand.
To take much less and give much more
It’s time to heal the land.

Cheer, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 20 A Self Improving Life

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Self Awareness, ValuesLeave a comment

When I was younger, I used to think that anyone who disagreed with me was wrong. More to the point, I didn’t hesitate to tell them how wrong they were. Usually as hurtful as possible. Not a really pleasant trait. So I decided to change it.

My day 20 NaPoWriMo offering is about that effort.

Enjoy!

My Past, My Path

I traveled far, so very far
As far as far can be.
When I arrived well there I was
I can’t escape from me.

Sometimes I say some awful thing
I instantly abhor.
My vile tongue and wicked mind
Wound innocence once more.

This part of me I cannot stand
Yet cannot put aside.
I bury it, try to deny
Yet from it cannot hide.

I’ve forged these chains with petty words
And every, cruel deed.
Until I change I greatly fear
My soul cannot be freed.

And so I work at bettering
Myself now day by day.
And hope in time that I can learn
To live a better way.

Now try to think before I speak
Think more before I act
Now try to see what others see
To feel how they react.

If I can see through others eyes
See me as I am seen.
Perhaps someday I will learn how
To put away the mean.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 14 Common Ground

On By WinstonIn Discrimation, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Society, Values1 Comment

As I sneak up on the midpoint of the NaPoWriMo challenge, I wanted to get a bit more personal again. I’ve been the person who assumed their view was the only one. Fortunately, I’m slowly growing out of it. This poem is about the need to make that change, both as individuals and a society.

Common Ground

When I was young I thought I knew
So much more than I did.
But that is often how it is
When you are just a kid.

As I’ve aged my views have changed
As every viewpoint should.
I’ve learned to see a wider world
I wish more people would.

There’d be less strife, less needless hurt
If we just tried to see.
That person there might have a point
The problem could be me.

So spare a moment and a thought
And take a look around.
For when you open up your mind
You’ll find more common ground.

Cheers, Winston

Poetry Challenge: Day 2

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Uncategorized2 Comments

Here is my next offering for the National Poetry Writing Month challenge. It’s early yet so the well is still pumping creative juices. The challenge will emerge when I’ve picked all the low hanging fruit.

Enjoy.

Vampires Lament

A flash of teeth in dark of night
Between my wet, red lips.
You tilt your head, expose your throat
Begin to move your hips.

You say you want to end it now
But what you throw away.
Is something that was ripped from me
Mourned to this very day.

You wish that I should drink from you
Your life is yours to give.
Yet even as you lust for death
I wish only to live.

I beg you please turn from this path
Please turn around and run.
And savour every moment more
You spend beneath the sun.

Cheers, Winston