Tag: positivity

NaPoWriMo Day 26

On By WinstonIn family, Loving Life, my Dog, My Perfect Dog, NaPoWriMo, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

As i was sitting and wondering what to write about tonight, my dog came and asked me why we hadn’t gone to bed yet. So yes, tonight’s poem is about Ducky. Enjoy!

Our Amazing Puppy

There is a puppy that I love,

This Ducky boy so sweet,

He’s gentle and adorable,

And has the cutest feet.

 

He likes the cooler weather best,

The heat cannot abide,

And when the summer gets too hot,

With his AC will hide.

 

But give him snow, and he will nap,

On my back step with joy,

And he will face surf all around,

Then he’s one happy boy.

 

He’s not a Husky, Newfoundland,

Or Bernese Mountain Dog,

He’s a mostly short-haired Beagle mix,

With sense God gave a log.

 

That’s not to say he is not smart,

He really is quite bright,

He get’s upset if we stay up,

Past his bedtime at night.

 

He’ll lie there in the living room,

And give the biggest sighs,

Then he gets up, stares at you with,

The saddest puppy eyes.

 

He does this ‘cause he knows it works,

Just like at mealtimes,

If I am writing, doesn’t care,

Loves food much more than rhymes.

 

He also is the kind of pup,

Who understands so much,

Attention’s not his big demand,

Content with just a touch.

 

If you go near, his tail thumps,

His belly rub request,

A back rub or an ear massage,

These things he loves the best.

 

As long as you are near to him,

He’s happy as a clam,

He is our awesome boy and I,

Know just how blessed I am.

Cheers,

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 18

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Pop Culture, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

Sometimes it feels like everything today is about being darker, grittier, more cynical and sarcastic. Instead of that tried and disproven approach, maybe try this.

Be The Light

A smile, a word, a life is saved,

Is pulled back from the brink.

The power of a kindness is,

Much greater than you think.

The server at your coffee shop,

Though you don’t know their name,

Your smile and a few kind words,

Lift them up just the same.

No doubt you have a friend or two,

At work, you’re there all day.

So try to be more positive,

And weigh the words you say.

For words they have a power that,

There’s few who comprehend.

But this I know, the words we sow,

Are energy we send.

The message in my words is this,

If more joy you would find.

Then be a light in this dark world,

And most of all be kind.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 12

On By WinstonIn Embrace the Wild, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

Spring is here and with it a yearning to be out in it as nature wakes from it’s winter slumber. I grew up… rural… to say the least. I love my life, but sometimes I miss the more direct connection to the wild. Today’s offering speaks to that desire.

In Nature, Peace

Out in the green with growing things,

That’s where I am most free.

With trees and moss and lily pads,

That’s where I am most me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my house,

My nice, suburban town.

But nature is my therapy,

When my life gets me down.

The scent of earth, a mossy bed,

Upon a hill of stone.

Connect me now to everything,

Though I am all alone.

I wonder have you ever watched,

A squirrel in it’s tree?

Or wind-blown waves in fields of grain?

It moves just like the sea.

Sat silent in a wood to watch,

Some grazing deer nearby.

While finches chirped and chipmunks dashed,

And clouds went drifting by?

When thunder booms across the plain,

Or sun shines on the glen.

When silent snowflakes softly fall,

You’ll see me smiling then.

A roaring wind, or gentle breeze,

Each stirs something within.

A yearning for a wilder place,

Adventures to begin.

So come with me if you’ve a mind,

Out from this place we know.

To walk the land as once it was,

Give our souls room to grow.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 7

On By WinstonIn Embrace the Wild, Loving Life, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Personal, Poetry, springLeave a comment

I know I already did a Spring poem, but it is my favourite season, and I am at work trying to squeeze today’s poem in between actual work stuff. So another poem about spring. Also, it is raining today and I’m not normally a fan, but by looking at it as a process of renewal, I am much more tolerant of being cold and wet.


Come Celebrate


Come celebrate the rising sun,
Now greet this brand new day.
There is breeze goes sighing by.
To bring spring scents your way.


Come celebrate the low grey clouds,
The rain where you now stand.
To wash away the winter’s dross,
Reveal greener land.


Come celebrate all growing things,
It is that time of year.
When life returns to root and bloom,
Replacing winter drear.


Come celebrate the evening chill,
The blaze is large and hot.
Come celebrate the spring with me,
Give thanks for all we’ve got.


Come celebrate this life we share,
How blessed we truly are.
Let spring renew the souls in us,
For we have come so far.


Come celebrate, come celebrate,
This greatest time of year.
It’s spring I love and always have,
Come celebrate my dear.


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 6

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

I Believe In Us

 

When all the news is doom and gloom,

And hope’s a fools game,

Remember we’ve been here before,

It’s just the tune that’s changed.

 

We only hear the worst of things,

Bad news sure travels fast.

But there is much that’s good as well,

Although we hear it last.

 

So many want to hear the worst,

To feel their lot is best.

It’s really hard to find the good,

When bad’s sought by the rest.

 

The worse the news, the more it plays,

It’s hard to get away.

Find better news more upbeat words,

Folks with good things to say.

 

So I’ll say this for those who seek,

For words some hope to bring.

I still believe in you and I,

And caring is the thing.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

Bringing Back The Positive.

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

Neil Pasricha
Neil Pasricha creator of the blog "1000 Awesome Things", author of "The Book of Awesome" and "The Book of Even More Awesome".

I watched a TED.com talk by Neil Pasricha last night and it started me thinking.  He talked about going through a very dark time in his life.  His marriage ended and a close friend took his own life after a long struggle with mental illness.  As part of the process of moving himself out of that dark place, he started a blog.  He called it 1000 Awesome Things.  It took off so well, that he was offered a book deal and he wrote the Book Of Awesome.  The initial message to this is pretty clear.  If we change our focus, we change our lives.  It’s not that we can prevent bad things from happening.  It is simply about remaining aware that other things, better things are happening.  Often at the very same time.

He also talks about the  “3 As of Awesome”.  They are Attitude, Awareness and Authenticity.  I’m just going to touch on them really briefly, then I’ll get to my point.  I promise.  Unless I get distracted.

First up, we have Attitude.  No, not the Attitude you break out because NO ONE can find their gas pedal if they’re in front of you, but can’t find anything else but the horn when they’re behind you.  This Attitude is more about how you chose to look at the world.  You can choose how you view the world.  You can focus on the negative and dark and miserable, or we can practice seeing the good along with the bad.

Awareness is the second “A”.  If Attitude is choosing how to live, Awareness is about implementing that choice.  It’s developing the habit of noticing the quality of the light before a storm instead of focusing on how far you still have to walk to avoid it.  Seeing the person who gave you a break and let you merge not just the ten who didn’t.  It’s about seeing the everyday “Awesome” in everything.  Even when you think you can’t.  Especially when you think you can’t.

Which brings us to Authenticity.  This is about not being afraid to be who you are.  It’s about celebrating the things that you find awesome without worrying about what others might think.  I love big summer blockbuster movies.  I think Michael Bay is a very talented director.  When I went to see Transformers: Dark of the Moon, it was awesome!  I take a lot of flak for it, but that’s what authenticity is.  Being true to yourself regardless.  Neil has a much better example in his talk which I strongly encourage you to watch here:   http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome.html

Now for the point I promised earlier.  See, I hardly got distracted at all.  After I had watched him and started thinking about how this applied to me, I started thinking about my own blog.  No, not in terms of a book deal, but what my choice of posts says about where i put my focus.  I realized I spend a lot of time on politics, and social ills, and losing my job, and idiots with stupid things written on their cars.  I write a lot of negative stuff, and I don’t have to.  Sure it sucks that I’m losing my job.  On the other hand, it’s Awesome that some of these people that I have been talking to every week for five years tear up when they say goodbye.  It’s awesome to have an eleven year old child shake my hand and thank me for being the only person in any store to treat her like a person.

i only saw the idiot with the stupid saying on his car because my Awesome wife drove over to pick me up from work.  My brother was rushed to hospital with a crack in his aorta.  this is something with a 10% survival rate.  I was terrified he was going to die.  How Awesome is it that on his last visit, his specialist told him he has NEVER seen anyone heal so fast or so well!?  My life is full of these things.  So Awesome, and yet so ordinary I don’t always notice them.  I think it’s time I paid more attention.  It’s time to change my Attitude a little, develop a little more Awareness, but I’m still going to write the other stuff too.  It would lack Authenticity if I didn’t.

Thank you Neil.  You’ve given me the gift of Awesome.

Cheers, Winston

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