Tag: Personal growth

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 30

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, The Power of WordsLeave a comment

Part of my job is peer mentoring and a big part of that is helping to resolve interpersonal issues amongst my co-workers. I often use some of the principles of mindfulness to provide tools to aid this process. One of the main ones, is to not live in past issues or project future ones, but to deal with the moment we are in.

This is the focus of the penultimate verse for this year. Enjoy!

Don’t Fear What’s Not There

The past is gone do not live there,

The future not yet here.

Remove what was and what may be.

And so reduce your fear.

What we most fear is in our heads,

Not in front of us now.

Our future guess based on our past,

Is what we dread somehow.

We cannot hear a calming voice,

So sure it’s just a ploy.

Imagination robs us of,

Our very real joys.

Yet still our brains won’t let us be,

See dangers everywhere.

The “What ifs” start they never stop,

Are more than we can bear.

But if we stop and realize,

What we fear may not be.

From our eyes we can lift the haze,

The truth more clearly see.

The past is gone, why let it run,

The future you create.

By making choices for you now,

Stop ere it is too late.

The future is not carved in stone.

Why fear what is not there?

This does not mean you should not plan,

That you should not take care.

But do not base that plan on fear,

But common sense instead.

By starting in the here and now,

You see farther ahead.

So be here now and find your peace,

Within the now we share.

And from this moment you can find,

Such joy if you just dare.

The future is not carved in stone,

The past no longer here.

And we can find our peace right now,

Choose to live without fear.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 29

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, homelessness, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Society, Values, VolunteeringLeave a comment

I have a friend named Gene who has been working for years to make the world a better place. Slowly, steadily and most importantly, deliberately. He has worked for youth employment programs, outreach programs, community health networks, school breakfast programs, non-profit housing… the list goes on. All of it with the intent to make life better for other people. He is one of my heroes, and this poem is for him.

A Better World

How many lives do we each touch,

As through this life we pass?

Perhaps a bit more focus there,

Than on things we amass.

It’s what we’ve done as we pass through,

That says just who we are.

The choice we make to harm or help,

Dark cloud or shining star.

All ethics and morality,

Are just a guide it’s true.

What matters is what’s in your heart,

Intent must come from you.

Now do you seek to lift someone,

Or only cause them pain?

If you would seek the former great,

If not please think again.

For in the end the life you’ve lived,

Is judged by those you touch.

So hold your anger, spread your love,

Your kindness does so much.

Not one of us can change the world,

There’s none of us that strong.

But every kindness great or small,

Still counteracts some wrong.

If each of us but try to make,

Things better for someone.

The world will change for that is how,

The greatest works are done.

Not one of us but all of us,

Have strength to shift the stars

If we all try a kinder path,

Might shift this world of ours.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 2

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness2 Comments

I am no longer quite as young as I was previously. I’ve come to terms with this and tend to remind myself that getting older still beats the only proven alternative. Get old or die.

Years ago I worked for a wonderful woman named Heather who taught me one of the most important things I’ve ever learned. She told me “Good is the enemy of great.”. This means that as soon as we accept good we stop pushing for great. Now, whether it is in my poetry, my art, my work or whatever else I’m doing, I always try to push myself just that little bit further.

Good Isn’t Good Enough

Sometimes in life we don’t invest,

In everything we do.

Do just enough, that’s good enough,

And then it’s done, we’re through.

We’ve done the thing a million times,

It’s nothing but routine.

Sure we didn’t scrub the tub,

But wiped it down. It’s clean.

We see it doesn’t shine the same,

Way that it did before.

And in our hearts we know the truth,

We could have given more.

What we don’t see, not right away,

Our soul erodes a bit.

We are born great, each lesser choice,

Chips off a piece of it.

Then one day where once greatness was,

Just good enough is seen.

Surrounded by the rubble of,

How great we could have been.

So spend the time and effort to,

Change good to something great.

That extra that you give comes back,

To your soul soon or late.

Good is not really good enough,

When great is waiting there.

Just push and strive a little more,

See good cannot compare.

Then you will see within yourself,

A pride not there before.

For turning good enough to great,

Giving a little more.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 1

On By WinstonIn Bullying Yourself, Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Self Awareness, The Power of WordsLeave a comment

It seems like it was only eleven short months ago that I wrapped up my last verse of the year. Now here we are again. Softly, gently, we find ourselves wrapped in the sweet warmth of the dream, knowing all the time… the nightmare of writer’s block lurks somewhere up ahead. But that is a problem for another day. Without further delay my season opener.

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Continue reading “NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 1” →

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

Following My Path

On By WinstonIn Personal, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

Job hunting sucks.  It’s one of my least favorite things to do.  Sadly, at this point, it’s also unavoidable.  One of the things I don’t like about it, is trying to figure out what the heck I’m going to do.  I don’t have a degree or even a diploma.  In today’s job market, that’s kind of limiting.  So I was thinking about talking to Employment Insurance about education and training programs.  It feels like the right time to take things in a new direction.

Today when I got home from work, my wife and I were talking about my options.  We had been discussing the possibility of getting more training and I was just waiting for Tuesday (after the long weekend) to call Second Career and find out what my options are going to be.  Second Career is a provincial program that provides education and skills training to laid off workers.  Sinnce that’s what I’m going to be soon, it seemed like it could be an option.  Now, we’ve had a rethink.

She isn’t convinced that I’m ready to fully commit to school and that I’m considering it for the wrong reasons.  She’s almost right, but not quite.  Going back to school isn’t at the top of my good times list, but I do want to improve my education and learn new skills.  I’m not pumped about school, but it’s a step towards doing things that are on that good times list.

During the conversation I mentioned a seasonal opportunity that I’ve probably got a pretty good shot at in retail/customer service.  She said she’d rather I take that until after the holidays.  Take some time to think about where I want to go.  Because she loves me, she’d rather see me do something I enjoy than just something I should.  Since I heard about the job opportunity, I’ve actually been thinking about doing both.  The job will probably be part time, so there’s no reason not to see what options EI/Second Career can offer me.  Maybe it will give me the chance to do what I love while learnning to do it better.

After we finished the conversation, we went back to what we were doing  on our respective laptops.  In my case, that meant doing this post.  Unnfortuately, I had no idea what I wanted to say.  I started writing, but it was even more disorganized than yesterday.  So went surfing for some inspiration.  I stumbled on a commmencement address Steve Jobs gave at Stanford University (you can watch it here: http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html )  .  It was the definintion of serendipity.

He may have been addressing the graduates at Stanford, but he was speaking to me.  He talked about how being fired from Apple years ago had given him the freedom to innovate and re-invent himself.  Then, he tallked about the importannce of doing what you love.  During this time, he developed the concepts which would define Apple’s ressurgence after he was rehired.  It addressed everything we had been talking about in a manner which resonnated strongly with me.

I appears that Mr. Jobs has built himself a time machine, traveled into the future and bugged my livingroom just to get some material for a commencement address at Stanford.  I might have thought it a tad excessive, except that I’m starting to understand about writer’s block.  Some days, it might be easier to build a time machine than to do the next post for my blog.

On the other hand, he might have done all of that just so he could give me a bit of guidance when I needed it.  If so, thank you Steve.  Your timing was impeccable.

Nothing is carved in stone.  I’m going to take a resume and apply for the customer service position.  If I get it, then I can start looking at education opportunities.  These are steps on a path.  I may not know where that path will lead, but I understand better how I want to shape it.  I choose to do what I’m passionate about, and I do it with the loving support of my wife.  It may not, in fact problably won’t go the way I imagine it.  At least I will have given myself the chance.  That’s not such a bad gift, is it?

Cheers, Winston

A Bad Habit Of Mine

On By WinstonIn Personal, Self Awareness4 Comments

When I discuss things I feel strongly about I often turn conversations into lectures. Anyone who knows me personally probably just said, “Really? No!” in a very sarcastic manner. It’s okay if they did, because I deserve it. Anyone who has read some of my other posts may have noticed it too. Too often, I speak or write in absolutes. I use “is”, “are” and “am”, instead of “might, “may” or “feel”. I’ve struggled for years to change, but it’s still an issue.

Why am writing about it now? A couple of days ago I wrote a post about Beluga whales, navel gazing and using this blog as a tool for personal growth. Then I went back to the commentary type stuff I enjoy writing. Today I was reminded of the need for some more growth.

My wife and I were out walking our dog and stopped to chat with some neighbors. The topic of Internet piracy came up. I gave my views. They gave their views. That should have been the end of it, but I couldn’t let it go. I broke out a lecture supporting my view. There were a couple of other points where I turned an enjoyable conversation into a lecture. Not many people enjoy being lectured. I know that, but I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

When we got home, Lynn told me what I needed to hear. Gently and with great care not to hurt my feelings, she told me what I had done. She worries that people who don’t know me will judge me by that one conversation. It hurts her to see people turn away without the chance to see the better parts of me.

I realized I’ve been doing the same thing here in this blog. Instead of trying to create a dialogue, I give my lecture on a subject and move on. That isn’t my intent, but in reading through my posts with fresh eyes, that’s certainly the feeling in some of them. I don’t see it when I’m writing, but now that I’m looking for it, I do. Instead of writing the beginning of the conversation I want to have with the reader, I’ve been writing conclusions.

Sometimes, I forget that a conversation has two sides. Sometimes, I sound (or read, as the case may be) like I think I have all the answers, even though I know I don’t. And sometimes, I’m just an obnoxious jackass.

I’m still going to post about the things that interest me. I’m just going to try to watch the absolutes. I want to create space for dialogue, instead of a big empty lecture hall with just the sound of my own opinions. Most of all, I want to stop letting the obnoxious jackass write my posts. If I can do that, maybe I can stop him talking to my neighbors.

If you see anything that looks like it was written by that guy could you let me know?

Cheers. Winston