Tag: self improvement

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 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 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

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

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