Tag: seeing things differently

A Lazy Afternoon

A Lazy Afternoon

I sit at ease
alert to all that is at play.
The bees are busy beesing
as a lizard jumps from tree to tree.
In the distance music feeds the soul
and a way off a broom 
sweeps your troubles away.
Then, a laugh here
a slap there
reminds you to keep in line,
while ants continue their march
to ensure life is lived.

To revive those who drift off
a sharp crow or two
attacks the unsuspecting victims.
Now giant towers roam the sky
serenaded by swirling birds
offer the promise of much needed purification,
while the breeze strokes every inch of skin
it can reach
whispering sweet lullabies. 

Nothing is out of step
each occupies its space fully
part of life's tapestry,
on this lazy afternoon.

Stop Being Led

I have stopped to contemplate how I have been led over the years. In many ways, I have allowed myself to be led by the whims and experiments of others. Led by people who come with absolute truths that later they discard as fraudulent. Then what does that make them?

I have seen many who seemed to have it together and thought, “if only I can be like them”. Then, to see them crying, ugly tears confessing that the mask that was the image they had created, had cracked and splintered – was a fascinating horror.” How could it be that you were not what you seemed?” Unconscionable! Right?

I have witnessed many fabled fixtures, lowly men and women, that we never thought we would be without, disappear. They grew tired of playing with us and felt like moving on. But still, we sit transfixed, confused by sudden abandonment. They will never return and so we must find someone else to follow.

Then of course we have to consider that we have often left it up to others to tell us where to go, how to think, eat, wear our hair and what to do.

We are in so many ways led but we never knew. We have always felt we were independent, but if we are really honest then we would come to see how much of what we do have been based on looking, listening to or wanting to be someone else. It may be embarrassing to admit, after all, we thought we were different. But we have allowed ourselves to be led.

Though it may be a scary thought for many, how about we remove the leash and travel a path designed for each of us?

Not Your Story

Not Your Story

If only 
is not your story
it belongs to your enemy-
enemy of progress.
Give it back
and don't look
back
to be attacked
by the fear of your fearlessness.
If only
was created 
by the trap
of those who told you,
you could not.
Do not listen,
they lie
to control
your narrative.
Take back your brush
with your blood, sweat and tears
and use them to paint your true colours...

When You Look Back…

We are often told that we cannot forget our past, or that we have to learn from the past in order to make better choices in our present and even for the future. However, I often find myself looking at the worst of my past and being crippled by them. The memories of those embarrassing moments, those terrible decisions and those life-altering actions haunt me constantly. So that when I begin to firmly walk in faith and have uncompromised hope, the shadows of that nefarious past come calling me to once again be its slave.

Somehow I have developed this bad habit of self-denial out of the guilt of the past. What invariably happens is that I am never closer to my goal, never closer to really walking in my purpose because I then have to cross another treacherous river I thought I had left just up the road.

Now I have to guard my sanity by deciding what to do when I look back, for how I have interacted with my past so far, leaves my more there than here. Now, I have to learn how to make peace with my past, so that it does not always threaten my current wellbeing. I have to consider the lessons from my past that will helpme now and forget the “only” or “What ifs”. Finally, I have to accept, embrace and plan in that order my past, present and future. I advice that has shed light on my contencious relationship with my past, was to set goals and go hard. I realise I have always been good at setting goals but never pushing to achieve them. Why? Becuase somehow along the way I convinced myself that my past condemns me and so while I could have done it, I may not deserve it.

A terrible thought that will surely cripple persons’ potentials and kill their dreams. So, we need to be careful when we look back and what we take back into our present and future. Don’t allow your past to cripple, maim or make you lame, use the past to help you conquer your present and future situations.