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Showing posts from 2013

Endure

When the lash of angers tongue Streaks red across my cheek When the scorn of judgments eyes Burn holes into my tender skin When the backs of bitterness Block my feet from the path I will not be defeated, I will endure I will turn to face forward And embrace the angry I will stand up straight And smile before the judge I will open my wings And soar over the bitter I will endure, I will not be defeated I have a grace that fills my heart I have a strength that grounds me firm I have a freedom that gives me flight I have a love that makes me whole And we will not be defeated, we will endure

Expectancy

Expectations are measuring sticks of the world They shadow our eyes from the miracles that happen every day. They are what we assume will happen based on the past They are what we want to happen based on our own desires But expectations limit, based on our earthly desires They have no vision of the infinite If we hold to our expectations We are limited to the scope of our own reality By the confines of our personal experiences and knowledge Rather than the expanse of possibility The limitless plans of Him who has no boundaries Let expectations free into the wind Give up striving for others' happiness And instead, hold your breath with expectancy Waiting to see what amazing things will occur today Delighting in the things that just happen A smile from a stranger A story that makes you spontaneously laugh from your gut Random meetings with friends old and new A message from a loved one just to say they are thinking of you The meal you've prepared being cle

He Who Is

He who layered every line Into the cliff's face He who painted the veregated color Of each iris petal He whose hand carved the dendrites Of each crystal snowflake How much more carefully does he entwine Each thread of our life's tapestry? He who knows each single eagle By the sound of their cry He who gave voices to the wind For storm and gentle breeze He who listens for the breath Of every crawling beast How much clearer does he hear The quietest whisper of our heart He who brushed the wisps Of every clouded sky He who placed the tiniest bud Onto the willow's branch He who shaped the granite stone Into rocky peaks aloft How much more intricately does he lay The stepping stones of whatever our chosen path He who knows the number of grains On the expanse of sandy shores He who has tallied the residents  Of the buzzing hive He who has numbered the blades of grass Of the rippling meadow How much more does he keep count Of every teardrop shed

The Road

He walks the overgrown path  With worn out shoes A perfectly polished walking stick Sheathing thistles and branches From before his feet The sun breathes Warm on his canvas skin Shadowed sporadically by canopies Of giant oaks that have seen  Eras of lifetimes past Surely  he steps with spent soles That have walked this trail before In a distant memory of a dream Recalled in a moment of clarity Made vivid by regret  With each step his back straightens His knot earned shoulders pull back He raises his chin, face on forward The burdens of past knowledge Falling from his body The loss of weighted duties and ideals Lighten his footsteps in the growth The pace of his walk quickens Pebbles skipping put from under his tread From his brow, beads born Of Determination and destination Drip down his time traveled face Leaving trails of salty streaks   On his wizened lips Not once does his head turn back Nothing pauses his det

Tear Up the List

How many people find it really hard to relax? As I was watching Iron Man 3 the other night I felt myself thinking how lazy I am. Here is this guy who never sleeps, builds extravagant machinery on a perpetual basis and flies all over the world fighting the bad guys. And here I had slept in that morning... Yet as I was talking to a friend today at lunch, she commented on how much energy I have and how insanely busy my schedule is. Apparently, booking a lunch date with me is next to impossible. When I told her how lazy I have been feeling lately, she almost fell off her chair laughing! Her response?? "You haven't even been able to sit still through our hour long meal!!" How many of us are working harder than we have ever in our life and yet feel like we are not doing enough? When there is a free hour in our day, we wonder what we are missing; what we have forgotten to get done. When I have no immediate tasks in front of me, I often find myself searching my mental &q

Who is There

My strength is withered Eyes heavy with drain Awakening from sleep Less alive than the day before Arms too weighted To lift in surrender Each breath an effort Beneath leaden lungs Standing frozen The stifling air around Making slightest movement A Herculean effort Desire deadened Defeated apathy Crawling across numb skin  Curling tendrils around every limb Shadows of happiness Mocking empty days Joys of yesterday Feeding the present darkness I am finished Drained of all capacity Cumbrous weights Ground me still Worn limbs dragging Through sticky syrup The cloying sweetness Of strategic deceit Who will carry me Move my spirit From this barrenness Into a new day Who will save me From sinking deep Into sand of sorrow To stand supremely strong Who will feed me Pour out life anew Intrude my space With streams of strength

Victory

Exhaustion, Droplets streaking lines down a dusty mask Sunlight glaring off shards of shattered armour A floodlight filling the silent stage Heaving, Lungs burning raw with each inhalation Defeat and smoke mingling in recessed cavities To be sent out again with a rush Shaken, Muscles tensed and pulsating in stillness On deadened ground feet charred and blistered stand The earth wasted after the violent eruption Silence, Deafening in its peaceful lull Moments of time shocked into hesitation The field reverently posed for picture Jubilant, Arms raised in exaltation, lacerations forgotten Voice bellowing with triumph, labored breath ignored Head lifted to glory, eyes open to the sun's daze The struggle is of yesterday Threats banished from the mind Danger dissolved, energies restored Wounds beginning already to clot And in the silence A rapturous cheer The enemy has been defeated All affliction is forgotten In victory

Dream Painter

Lounging luxuriously under a chalkboard sky The slate a cloudless, pristine cerulean Blank anticipation dripping sweetly Possibilities boundless Raising a brush loaded with imagination A swirling hand making lazy wisps Twirly cues and curls Wide, broad swings of abandon Playfully interrupted by  Intricate, patterned sketches Breezes smudging lines Shifting shapes into new creations Mingling this and that together Sweetly harmonious Leaning back in simple admiration Reaching up to swipe here Adding a splash and smatter there Amusedly, with a shake of the head The giant etch-a-sketch sky clears The canvas again heavy with expectancy A perfectly sublime way To spend a languid pause in time Painting dreams in the sky

Employees, You Have the Power - Take it!

Who really wants to be told what to do? Many of us grumble about being “micromanaged”, “dictated to”, “preached at” and simply “bossed around” but we don’t do much about it. If we want to be given responsibility, we need to TAKE responsibility for ourselves. There are a great number of articles and blogs out there to help managers and leaders learn how to motivate and inspire their “team” but ultimately the ones who have the power to make this happen are you, the team members!  So, here’s how to take control (sorry, it’s not sugar coated): 1. Assess your value. Time spent at a desk is not equal to dedication. It’s about what you bring. What value are you adding besides the “honor of your presence”? Remember, quality is worth more than quantity. 2. Take action. Often we are afraid of taking action or making a decision because we will be held accountable for the outcomes. But who do you think is more admired? The risk-taker or the side-line sitter? 3. Ask questions. I

I Know

I believe, You are here always, forever I believe, that Your love covers all I believe, You sent Your Son to die and I believe, You saved us from the fall I know, You protect me as I sleep I know, You want only the best of best I know, You see my deepest dreams and I know, You are a place of rest I may stray, from Your perfect path I may fall, along the way I may think, I need to know it all But I BELIEVE, that You know all and that's all I need to know. I believe, You made me as I am I believe, You gifted me with life I believe, creation knows Your voice and I believe Your power conquers strife I know, You have me in your hand I know, You shelter me from the storm I know, You offer grace and peace and I know, You love my broken form I may lose, my sight from time to time I may let, my flesh get in the way I may think, I need to know it all But I BELIEVE, that You know all and that's all I need to know.

Delve into My Mind

Delve into my mind One day a darkened nest Of tangled webs. Hopeless deceit Trapping me in frozen chaos Delve into my mind One day joy’s playground; Songs bursting, Airy innocence Sending me soaring into oblivion Delve into my mind One day the vacant expanse; Exhaustion choking, Velvety blackness Lulling me into dull complacency Delve into my mind One day a tranquil chamber; Soothing contentment, Warm and silky Blanketing me in cushiony revival Delve into my mind Welcome to my confidences Laid strewn in raw truth; Beautiful in ugliness Simple in confusion Delve into my mind Embracing me as I am, No secreted alcoves Encompassed in entirety   Loved as I am 

Right Time, Right Place Route to Success

I was recently reading an article on Seth Godin. In the midst of an age of self-help experts and how to books, Seth avoids trying to provide instant gratification with a “how-to” book on success. Rather he addresses “what it’s really about”. His secret is simple: there is no shortcut to success. It is riddled with failure, fear and struggle. The bottom line is when you think something  might  work, you try it. And if it doesn’t work, you persevere and try again (and again). There are many people who live by chance. They sit and wait idly until a door opens up, so they can saunter through. But how many doors fly open without any effort from someone, somewhere? I am not one to deny that things happen unexpectedly, but do not confuse this with random chance or “luck”. If you look at any “successful” person, not one of them can claim that it was simple “luck” that got them where they are. Sure there is the phrase “right time, right place”. But the key is that they were in that 

Childlike Faith

Captured wonderful in the innocent child's hand Tiny delicate fingers Clasping gingerly together Cupped palms parting in concentrated care Allowing a peak at the treasure Eyes filling with secret joy Securing the clasp safely again in satisfaction A private grin glowing Pleased with privileged knowledge Skipping carefully through wispy grasses Barely contained excitement Straining to burst forth Approaching a cluster of carefree companions Beckoning them with calls To share the prized possession Cherubic heads huddling over the  dainty nest Sun glowing off blonde, caramel and chocolate Anticipatory vibrations flowing Hands gently blossoming open Offering promised revelation Necks crane forth eagerly Seeing nestled  in the outstretched palm A single kernel, a grain A perfect mustard seed

Pleasing vs Serving

The difference between serving and pleasing others may not seem apparent at first but it can make a world of difference to your life. I was born in Japan and, although I only lived there for the first four years of my life, I seem to have adopted many Japanese characteristics and beliefs. One of the most ingrained is that to be a good Japanese woman, and in general, you serve. For years I assimilated serving others with pleasing them. It was not until many years later that I learned there is a world of difference between the two. This is a discovery I did not make overnight, in fact there are days I am still having to remind myself of this. It is easy to slip into the trap of wanting to make people happy, to "fix" things for them, if for no other reason than to feel appreciated and liked. But I've learned that this is not always doing them actual good. Striving to do what is best for someone does not always mean that person will be happy. This is a lesson hard lear

Revelation Divine

Nests of thorns tangled throughout the soul Twisting and choking fulfillment Slowly, each spindle is severed Cut away and tossed into the fire Barriers of stone surrounding the mind Keeping truth from penetrating  Deftly, each block is knocked away Fragments of rubble scattering the ground Walls of ice around the heart Blocking the radiant warmth  Steadily, the thaw melts in trickles Drips of dew gliding freely away For some revelation is sudden Healing instantaneous Life renewed in a glorious moment Transformation supreme Through divine unveiling The blind see perfect power His immense glory revealed As light banishes darkness For some it is a pilgrimage A plodding trail Battles won with still a war to fight Change imperceptible Through the trudge Lessons are learned to the core Strength is built faithfully Each step bringing clearer focus Neither is the better A moment of magic Or an arduous journey For bo

Feeling Your Way, or Thinking it Through

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They say misery loves company, but who ever specified that the company  should also be miserable?  If you surround misery with love and joy, optimism and hope, how long  can misery endure?   Don't be defined by those around you; be the definition. Don't let  negative people drag you down to their level, instead raise them up to  yours. It is easy to let emotions take control of and give into the  mood of the moment. Emotion should not be our motivator, it should not define who we  are or what we do.  We tend to be creatures of immediacy; responding  to urges without pondering. But feelings are fleeting, and if we let  them guide us, life will become a treadmill race; a lot of energy  expended without a lot of progress. Going with your gut sounds great, but our gut is much better for  digesting rather then evaluating. Because how reliable are feelings? They are based on personal  perception, which lets face it, is singular. We don't rationalize our  feelings, and

Masterpiece

Moored in a moment of life The present seems chaotic An impressionist's masterpiece Seen inches from the canvas Take a step back Absorb the scope of entirety Suddenly every splatter and slash Blends harmoniously together

17 Ways to Take Care of You (Why 17? 15 or 20 was just too "standard")

A friend and I recently spent the day at the Ontario Science Centre. Yes, before you ask, it IS considered a place for kids and families, but often I feel like a big kid myself. I came away from the day feeling relaxed, inspired and rejuvenated. It caused me to wonder, why can't every day be like this? So, here are the  ways I have resolved to get more from life. And since I am unconventional, I have not kept the best for last; I have started with them first! 1. Have fun. Tell yourself it is OK to have fun. Adults seem to think we have to work hard to earn fun, nothings says we can't have fun anytime., even at work! 2. Be a kid. Let yourself get distracted and off course. That is often when you discover something new. 3. Relax! Give yourself a break from worrying, it really does  accomplish nothing (except maybe give you a headache). Know even in your most relaxed moments, you are achieving something. 4. Enjoy the moment. It is important to think forward and plan ahe