Category: Self Awareness

Personal Creativity Project: Poetry

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, Personal, Personal Creativity Project,, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

My Dad and I didn’t always see eye to eye. But despite that, we never gave up on each other. Keeping those lines of communication open gave us the chance to grow and change and grow together.

This poem is for my Father,

Thank You

So Father’s Day Rolls ’round again,
I want to thank my Dad.
I learned so much from him it’s true,
So much more good than bad.

When I was young I could not see,
Sometimes he did know best.
But now I know ’cause I’ve had time,
The things he taught to test.

He wasn’t right all of the time,
But no one is it’s true.
He did his best to raise us right,
Good people in his view.

My Father passed some time ago,
I miss him to this day.
I am so glad that through the years,
I found the words to say.

So thank you Dad for all you gave,
And all you taught to me.
You taught me how to find myself,
And who I want to be.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Fifty-Three

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I saw my reflection from the corner of my eye and it took me a moment to realize that the old man there was me.  Thinking about that started me thinking about aging.  That lead to this.

Enjoy!

On Aging

Sometimes a mirror catches me,
Completely unawares.
I’ve no idea who it is,
That from its surface stares.

I don’t remember aging so,
A young man lives in me.
He’s startled when he sees the face,
He knows that others see.

Inside I’m still the man I was,
Those many years ago.
Can’t walk as far or walk as fast,
When did I get so slow?

I used to take two stairs at once,
That’s not the case today.
Thank God for elevators now,
That’s all that I can say.

But feeling bad for feeling old,
Is silly ’cause you see,
I think of all the millions who,
Are much worse off than me.

So I should thank my lucky stars,
Yes that’s what I should do.
And to my mirror I should say,
“It’s sure good to see you.”

The nice thing about getting older…. it beats the alternative.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Forty -Nine

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Enlightenment, Personal, Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, Poetry, Self Awareness1 Comment

Self acceptance and self worth are really important to me.  That’s why they are recurring themes in my writing.  I was bullied when I was young and it took me a long time to find those things for myself.  If my words can help just one person to find their own sense of self worth…. I couldn’t ask for any better reward.

Love Poem For Yourself

There’s beauty in this would of ours,
It’s what makes life worthwhile.
It’s in the bloom of every rose,
And every childs smile.

It’s in the eye of he who looks,
Not all will feel the same.
If someone judges how you look,
It’s them who should feel shame.

You must be true to who you are,
And what you feel inside.
You’ll lose yourself by thinking that,
Your truth you have to hide.

No one can tell you who you are,
Or who you have to be.
You are the one to make that choice,
So look inside and see.

Some may not like may not agree,
With choices that you make.
But they’ve no right to make you change,
Or freedom from you take.

There’s beauty in this world of ours,
It’s there in who you are.
So to yourself you must be true,
Head high you are a star.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Six

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Personal, Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

Still on the personal side.  I’ll change the tone soon.  Well as soon as the voices in my head move on.

Learning To Be….

I tell a joke I get a laugh,
I tell another joke.
I tell a joke I get a punch,
No more fun do I poke.

I try to learn from my mistakes,
Sometimes I don’t succeed,
If still I keep on trying then,
That’s some progress indeed.

I try to live a life of peace,
Hurt none who’ve hurt me not.
And as for hurts that I’ve received,
Forgave if not forgot.

Sometimes I’ve helped a stranger out,
‘Cause it was right to do.
But I’ve not helped out everyone,
There’s more that I could do.

So I’m a work that’s under way,
Will be until I die.
There is no way that I can fail,
Ask only that I try.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Five

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Enlightenment, Personal, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

A little bit of introspection led to today’s tale of woe and self-redemption. It’s all about self acceptance and understanding your own worth. Figure out for yourself who you are instead of just accepting what people tell you. It’s the greatest gift you can give yourself and the sooner you do, we the better your life will be.

I Win

Back when I was a little boy,
I often felt quite bad.
I didn’t try I had no friends,
I often felt quite sad.

I wasn’t fast I wasn’t strong,
I didn’t get along.
And when I tried hard to fit in,
I’d always get it wrong.

I used to think that it was me,
Something inside was broke.
I thought that I would always be,
The butt of someone’s joke.

For many years I felt this way,
My worth was less than dirt.
I built my walls kept people out,
Saved me from further hurt.

It worked so well for oh so long,
Then cracks appeared at last.
I made some friends but trusted not,
Too wary from my past.

But still I learned that I was not,
Just what the world had seen.
There’s so much more but buried deep,
Where it had always been.

There’ve been some people in my life,
Who helped me understand.
That I am worthy I am liked,
Self loathing must be banned.

I have a wife who understands,
How deeply I am flawed.
And yet her love is so complete,
Self doubt should be outlawed.

At times it still will creep back in,
No matter my success.
That nagging voice from childhood,
Still cries out in distress.

But if I let it run my life,
I let the bullies win.
But that can’t be if I just know,
I like myself. I Win.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day Twenty-Eight

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

Who was the richest person in the world the year Mother Theresa died? The greatest architect?  Don’t know?  Neither do I.  Nobody remembers them, but everyone knows who she is.  Wealth and power may be fun, but to be immortalized in the hearts and minds of the people, nothing beats outrageous acts of kindness.

The Secret of Immortality

We build it up then tear it down,
Then build it up again.
This cycle seems to be our way,
Let not the past remain.

If those who lived in times long past,
Set stone upon a stone.
We undo everything they built,
Make piles of our own.

We do this even knowing those,
To come will do the same.
We build to be remembered long,
To snatch a moment’s fame.

When our descendants have forgot,
Our names and where they’re from.
We hope our legacies of stone,
Still stand in years to come,

So tear down what we built you must,
To build your future pile.
But don’t forget that all you build,
Lasts just a little while.

It’s how you’ve lived not what you’ve built,
That stands the test of time,
So focus more on being kind,
And live a life sublime.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo DayTwenty-Six

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

My life isn’t perfect but it is filled with joy and love.  I don’t always think about that, but I am trying hard to keep it top of mind.  Most of all, I want to make sure the people who are most important to me know who they all.

The Simplest Joys

I love my life I love my love,
I’m richer than you know.
I live each day and thank my stars,
My love still loves me so.

I love my child and love my dog,
My job sometimes as well.
I’ve got some awesome friends I know,
Too much good luck to tell.

So when sometimes I’m overwhelmed,
And I start feeling bad.
I try to keep this all in mind.
So I can be less sad.

The world may be going down,
And all be going wrong.
The simple joys that fill my life,
Still carry me along.

I want to thank the universe,
For all that’s in my life.
But most of all for all the joy,
I want to thank my wife.

Je t’aime mon ange.  Plus que tu sais.  Pour l’eternite, et plus encore.

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 Eighteen

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

I had a customer unload on me at work the other day.  They then justified it by telling me all the things currently going wrong in their life.  This is the answer I’m not really supposed to give at work.

Being Emotionally Appropriate

You may not always choose your place,
You can’t choose your destiny.
Just be aware that where you are,
Is just where you’re meant to be,

If everything in life were good,
Then there’d be no way to tell.
Sometimes to know what heaven is,
You must first endure hell.

I’ve had my share of ups and downs,
Still here my heart rejoices,
Some of these things I could not change,
For all I’ve made my choices,

Can’t always choose what I go through,
Just choose how I’ll handle it,
That choice decides it life is gold,
Or some really dreadful shit.

So next time life is going hard,
Please remember this advice.
The other person’s human too,
Good karma if you’re nice.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day Sixteen

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

Letting my mind write whatever it wants can lead to some unexpected outcomes.  It started out as a simple bit of horror.  Suddenly it’s about my father.

Enjoy!

A Child In The Dark

The moon peeps through the lowering cloud,
Makes shadows on the wall.
I tell myself that’s what I see,
Convince myself that’s all.

But then the moon is gone again,
But still the shape is there.
So I look for another way,
To chase away the scare.

I want to hide beneath my sheets,
Can’t tear my gaze away.
Just barely I can see it move,
It’s in my mind I say.

The darker shape within the dark,
A blacker shade of black.
Too dark to see and yet I see,
The spikes along it’s back.

Such things as this cannot exist,
They simply cannot be.
And yet the claws that tug my sheets,
Slay rationality.

I do the only thing I can,
I scream with all my might.
And hear my fathers footsteps come,
Know he’ll turn on the light.

Dark scrapes it’s claws along my leg,
The pain it makes me cry.
Then suddenly the light is on,
My fathers question “Why?”

I try to tell between the sobs,
Of darkness that was there,
“Don’t worry son it’s just a dream,
You’re safe no monster’s there.”

I wish that I could be as sure,
As father seems to be.
I guess for now he’s sure enough,
I’ll trust and wait and see.

Cheers, Winston