Living Life Poetically: Rest for a Barren Heart
“Rest for a Barren Heart” isn’t the most uplifting poem; however, it is hopeful toward the end. It’s for all those times we go to bed feeling a bit under the weather after a bad day. While the body needs rest, so does the soul. Rest for a Barren Heart If I hug this pillow tightly, Would it give comfort to my heart?If I press it against my chest,Would it support a heart’s barren weight of sorrow?If on it a heavy mind can press its head for dreams to follow,Can an emptied soul press its heart to fill the hollow? Perhaps, I would fall asleepand wake up to a better tomorrow …
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
This quote is from the book, Meditations, by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Meditations contains a series of notes and ideas by Aurelius to himself–a kind of personal journal. There is evidence to believe Aurelius suffered from chronic pain and poor appetite (symptoms of a possible ulcer). It was so bad that many were concerned for his health. Knowing this context, we might have more appreciation for his words about waking up each morning with gratitude for simply being alive with the ability to think, enjoy, and love. It’s not always easy to do so, especially when we’re suffering from pain–be it physical or emotional. But perhaps, with gratitude, the…
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Living Life Poetically: To All Haters, Thank You
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
In nature, storms come and go. No storm has ever lasted forever. However, some are fleeting, while some can last the entire night and into the morning. The same applies to life. Some of the challenging moments in life are short-lived and some seem like they’ll never end. Either way, it’s only natural to wait eagerly for the storm to pass. Waiting in anticipation for life’s storms to pass isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a sign of hope. However, this quote, by Vivian Greene, reminds us to dance in the rain while we wait. It’s not always easy. But when it can be done, it makes the wait so…
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“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
“Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness.”
“A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but its persistence.”
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
It’s natural to feel sad when something good comes to an end. Practically no one sees a good thing come to an end and says glad that’s over. Whether it’s a great experience, a good book or movie, or the life of a loved one, the more common response is to wish it weren’t over. This quote, by Dr. Seuss (a.k.a Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel), can perhaps help us feel a little better when good things come to an end. Perhaps it’s easier said than done. Perhaps a good bout of tears is in order. But maybe after that, a smile can eventually surface as we begin to look back…
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The “Pep Talks” That are Always There When You Need Them
“Make a pledge to yourself right now, to declare that you are worth your time and energy.”
“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”
“Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.”
A lot of our unhappiness comes from comparing our life with others’. However, we don’t know what challenges someone else is going through unless we’re walking in their shoes. We all have our own unique path. And each of our paths will have some trails and tribulations. So, before comparing your life with someone else’s and looking down on your own, remember that you don’t know the full picture of someone’s life unless you’re actually living it yourself. Not only that, the act of comparing prevents you from being able to recognize the good things you already have, diminishing your overall happiness. This quote, by Marquis de Condorcet, is about…
Living Life Poetically: Sadness Gone
The poem, “Sadness Gone,” has a unique form. Each stanza has three lines that follow the pattern of five, seven, five. Meaning, the first and third lines have five syllables while the middle line has seven. This form is considered a haiku, which is a form of traditional Japanese poetry. Typically, these poems are only three lines long and seldom rhyme. However, in “Sadness Gone,” I took a few liberties. It is a haiku poem with three stanzas and some rhythmic rhyme. The poem examines what we can learn or gain each time we realize sadness is gone. Sadness Gone Sadness gone will show, It all passes in the end…The…
“When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.”
Rain and darkness don’t typically result in happy, positive emotions. And if we had to choose between a hundred days of dreary weather and a hundred days of sunshine, we’ll most likely choose the latter. But sometimes life gives us a hundred days of rain; a hundred days of darkness. Basically, have to go through some crap for what feels like an excruciatingly long time. The light ahead may be far away or seem nonexistent. This quote (by anonymous) reminds us that in the midst of the rain and darkness we can look for the things that bring us joy.
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When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.
“One day or day one. You decide.”
“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”
Living Life Poetically: Keep On
The poem, “Keep On”, was written for those bad days; for whenever you feel like giving up. Perhaps, you’ve lost the drive to pursue your dreams and aspirations. I’ve been there. However, I’ve learned that giving up leads to more regrets. So push through the challenges. Come out stronger, each time, than before. Keep on. Keep On Take heart you downcast, my friend. Joy and happiness,You deserve. Though gone for now, They’re only hidden. Discovered, not given. Found where contentment, faith, and hope means believing, In a life that’s always worth living. So, keep on. For the journeys to come.
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“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
This Too Shall Pass
“This Too Shall Pass” is an adage that is both universal and timeless. So much so that it’s somewhat uncertain when and where it comes from. It has appeared in various forms and translations throughout different cultures and centuries. It has appeared in Jewish folklore about the bible’s King Solomon as well as in 13th-century Persian literature (among other origins). The main idea in the saying is that nothing in the human condition lasts forever. Anything that happens, good or bad, will one day pass. This can be both humbling and consoling. When life feels arduous or your situation feels unbearable, it is rather consoling to know that “this too…
Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent
It’s not uncommon for an athlete or team who had lost in the past to win later on. Happens all the time. Now, imagine that after a few defeats, they completely give up and vow never to play again? That would be crazy…and unfortunate, right? Well, we do this with life. After some rough patches and defeats, we sometimes lose our motivation and give up on the game–be it a passion, a hope, a dream–even ourselves. That’s the effect of a defeated mind. This quote by Marilyn vos Savant is not just a reminder to keep going. Beyond this is the message that our decision to not keep going is…
