Category: Self Awareness

NaPoWriMo Day 2

On By WinstonIn Humor, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’d just like to say Happy Birthday to my friend Jen. Oh, and thank you for providing today’s idea 🙂

On Aging

Your age is just a number folks,

Or so they like to say.

But now and then there is a sign,

Those years are here to stay.

 

They say we shrink as we get old,

To me that would be sweet.

‘Cause every time I put on socks,

It’s farther to my feet.

 

It’s glasses now and far less hair,

At least upon my head.

And all the different sounds I make,

To get up off the bed.

 

Can’t walk as fast, can’t walk as far,

Won’t even try to run.

My skin so thin and worn out,

I must avoid the sun.

 

The list goes on and on and on,

But now I need a rest.

Of all the things, time’s brought to me,

I love my naps the best.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2020

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, family, Loving Life, my angel, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ahhhh…. Spring is in the air! That means two things. It’s time to pick up the dog poop in the back yard, and it’s time to bruise my brain creating 30 days worth of something that I persist in calling poetry. I’ll let you know at the end of the month which one was more enjoyable.

Without further ado….

ON PARADISE

Sometimes I wish that I could slip,

The shackles holding me.

And drift beyond the mortal veil,

What wonders there to see.

 

But are they there, these wonders which,

I would so boldly seek?

Or just a dark and formless void,

Eternal, empty, bleak.

 

Religions tell us there is more,

For those who earn their place.

But I can’t see my ending there,

Those judges rigged that race.

 

Perhaps I’d go around again,

As some would say we do.

I’d come back as some tiny thing,

A common garden shrew.

 

Then round and round and round I’d go,

‘Til once more here I sit.

No wiser now than when I left,

Enough to make you spit.

 

But then I look at where I am,

Look clearly at my life.

Then truly see my paradise,

My family, friends and wife.

 

No greater prize could there await,

No greater joy abound.

These blessings that have filled my life,

This love that I have found.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

NaPoWriMo Day 25

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, Uncategorized2 Comments

I’m posting this a little later in the day than usual. I spent my morning at the Heart Institute getting some tests done. Many of the other people there are in far worse shape than be so it served as a “Memento Mori”. It started me thinking about my eventual end, and this is what came out of it. Enjoy!

A SPARK TO MARK MY PLACE

Sometimes when I’m reminded of,

My own mortality.

I realize I’ll one day face,

The utter end of me.

I wonder where the time has gone,

Just where the years all went.

I’ve lived my life like anyone,

But was my time well spent?

Should I regret the things undone,

The chances that I’ve missed,

Or bow my head and thank the fates,

For each time I’ve been kissed?

And of the lives that I have touched,

Which ones will shed a tear?

And which will share a laugh about,

Some mem’ry they hold dear?

Why do I ask? It matters not.

When I no longer live.

As I wink out, will I believe,

I gave all I could give?

There’s more that I could do not doubt,

Before I leave this place.

Not something grand, some little thing,

To ripple through my race.

Perhaps this verse could be that thing,

That in a thousand years,

Someone may find and read these words,

Find themselves moved to tears.

But maybe not, I cannot know,

Just hope to leave a mark.

And pray some tiny spark remains,

When my own light goes dark.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 24

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness2 Comments

In my experience, each of us carries things with us that we keep locked away from those around us. If we are truly blessed, we will find someone with whom we can share almost anything…. but there’s still that one secret corner that even we don’t want to look into. Today’s poem is about that corner. Enjoy.

HIDE NO MORE

To speak the truth that’s in my heart,

To this I do aspire.

That what I write should burn without,

Reflect my inner fire.

That those who read should somehow glimpse,

The real me inside.

That words could peel off the mask,

Myself no longer hide.

For everyone of us is masked,

Lest those who judge us say.

“Behold the freak, the misfit there!”

From us then turn away.

Yes deep inside our secret hearts,

Each has some secret thing.

And each of us is sure that it,

An end to us would bring.

And so we lock that thing away,

We pray no one will ask.

And day by day that fear becomes,

Our old familiar mask.

But we cannot of these things speak,

No more could I mine write.

But when alone might whisper soft,

Deep in the darkest night.

Admit to you if no one else,

That thing within your heart.

That simple act, that honesty,

At least it is a start.

I do not care just what it is,

Behind the mask you wear.

If you accept and own your truth,

A lighter load you’ll bear.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 17

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I lost my temper this morning. It was over something stupid. It didn’t need to happen. I don’t lose it often, but even once in a while is too often. Some days…. I really don’t like myself very much.

 

MY PERSONAL DEMON

There is a rage inside of me,

Each day I watch it grow,

No matter what or how I try,

I cannot make it go.

 

I try so hard to keep it in,

To spare those close to me.

The harder I try to suppress,

The worse when it breaks free.

 

I snarl and shout and sound just like,

I have gone quite insane.

But I’ve no easy reason there,

No illness of the brain.

 

The guilt may damp the flames of rage,

But I know not for long.

And soon enough I’ll loose my grip,

When something small goes wrong.

 

I’ll lose control, the rage will win,

Misplaced as it may be.

Another moment I’ve destroyed,

Ashamed that I am me.

 

I vow that I’ll do better now,

No matter what it takes.

But it always ends up the same,

Can’t learn from my mistakes.

 

There is a beast inside of  me,

It rages on and on.

It does not rest, it will not stop,

‘Til I at last am gone.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

NaPoWriMo Day 9

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Discrimation, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

At some point all of us have been on the receiving end of someone’s uniformed judgement of us. For that matter, we’ve probably all done it at some point. Making snap judgements of what’s dangerous is a survival skill. But not one we really need any more. Let’s all try to read the book… not just look at the cover.

IGNORE THE JUDGES

No one can see what’s in your heart,

Though they act like they do.

And what it is they think they see,

Decides how they treat you.

 

They may decide you’re awesome and,

Treat you the very best.

Or maybe find you average and,

Lump you with all the rest.

 

Sometimes they will decide you are,

The villain of the piece.

Then there’s no effort they won’t make,

Your suff’ring to increase.

 

But all of this is based on them,

It’s nothing that you’ve done.

For some it is an error true,

But some do it for fun.

 

Remember this, they are not you,

You’re not just what they see.

Know who you are, be true to you,

And keep your spirit free.

 

No one can see inside your heart,

My friend except for you.

So look inside, be your best self,

In all you say and do.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 7

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Accentuate the positive! It took me years to learn this seemingly simple lesson. Too often we focus on the negative. We remember the guy who cut us off in traffic but forget the person who slowed down to let us merge. So much of our happiness comes down to growing what we feed. Feed the negative in your life and that’s what will grow. Feed the positive and see what happens!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think.

 

How You Take It, Is What You Make It

The day is done, the sun goes down,

I look up at the night.

The stars and moon, their beauty share,

With gentle silver light.

 

As I think back upon my day,

It’s very clear to see.

That whether it was good or bad,

Is always up to me.

 

The good is where you look for it,

Sometimes it’s hard to find.

But like the bad, it’s always there,

It’s how you set your mind.

 

It’s true sometimes there’s nasty things,

No good in them I know.

But focus more on positives,

And let the hurtful go.

 

This is the only power we,

Can truly call our own.

We choose the things we keep inside,

It’s up to us alone.

 

Let darkness go and light abide,

Keep peace within your soul.

And every day just practice this,

With happiness your goal.

 

When day is done and sun has set,

You look up at the night.

Look back upon the day you had,

And focus on the light.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 5

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Self Awareness, Uncategorized, ValuesLeave a comment

With all the division and bitterness in our society and in the news today, I felt the need to put something out there that’s a bit more positive. I hope you enjoy this take on our legacies. The ghosts we leave are people’s memories of us.

A QUICK GUIDE TO YOUR “AFTER” LIFE

A star I see from where I sit,

It shimmers in the night.

It’s travelled here so very far,

To shine on me tonight.

 

So sometime very long ago,

That light set out to me.

Not knowing if I would be here,

Now looking up to see.

 

A star I see from where I sit,

The memory of one.

It may have burned out long before,

Its epic journey’s done.

 

Yet I still see its light tonight,

So bright though oh so far.

And hope that when my time is done,

I’ll shine on like that star.

 

Each one we touch remembers us,

Some longer than the rest.

And those we treat with kindness they,

Remember us the best.

 

So think on this as you go forth,

Upon your busy day.

Let kindness be your legacy,

In loving mem’ries stay.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 8

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Be A Joyful Child

A long, long time ago there was,

A happy child at play.

The old face in the mirror asks,

Where is that child today?

Sometimes it seems like yesterday,

Sometimes an age or more.

Since I have seen that smiling face,

That long ago I wore.

I look for them sometimes it’s true,

That child I used to be.

And now and then, I catch a glimpse,

Of laughing, smiling me.

I think of how it was back then,

With future just a word.

And all the stress of adult life,

Not lived and seldom heard.

I couldn’t see the treasure of,

The life I lived back then.

Sometimes I wish I could go back,

And do it all again.

But that is not the way it works,

Each life goes just one way.

So find the child you used to be.

Let their joy fill your day.

NaPoWriMo 7

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, Society, Uncategorized, ValuesLeave a comment

Own You

Why do we do the things we do?
What is it makes us go?
And when we do what we should not,
Pretend we didn’t know?
Some say this is the way we are,
Imperfect, full of sin.
Some say it’s what our parents did,
Still buried deep within.
I say it is each choice we make,
We make each one alone.
Not parents, God nor DNA,
It’s on our heads alone.
We choose to hold one person back,
Another person teach.
The hand that hurts, the hand that helps,
Just one mind guides them each.
We are just who we choose to be,
No truth could be so plain.
Some lash out from the smallest hurt,
Some rise above their pain.
You cannot choose all of the things,
That life will bring to you.
It’s up to you how you respond,
Think well before you do.

Cheers, Winston