Ramblings by Dawn

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Inside My Globe

Life inside my bubble

Music's kinda garbled

Climate stays the same

Everyone knows my name

Life inside my glass

People can't harass

I can be unique

Some would say a freak

Life inside my globe

People cannot probe

They can see my light

Think that I'm all right

Life inside my sphere

No one can get near

No one knows my pain

Or hurts that I contain

Life inside my ball

I am standing tall

I simply cannot fall

And yet I feel so small

Life inside my orb

I cannot absorb

The energy of life

I only know my strife

So if you have a hammer

Save me from this glammer

Kindly break my sphere

For I am drowning here

What I really need

Is simply to be freed

For I have things to share

I have love to spare

I could use a hand

Brushing off the sand

And I could use a friend

To help my heart to mend

Sometimes I see someone who appears to have the perfect life. Everything seems to work for them. And they never seem to have any problems. I always seem to be surprised when I discover that they have disappointments and heartaches in their life. And there are times that I discover that they are lonely.

I have learned to hide my feelings and disguise my thoughts. I have learned to appear strong and calm even when my world seems to be crumbling around me. As I walk through life being strong and pretending everything is sunshine and roses, I often miss the acts of kindness and thoughtful words of my friends. When I am so busy walking proud and keeping it together I assume that others are doing fine. I miss the opportunity to be a friend to someone else.

Perhaps it is time to put our globes away and reach out to those around us. Perhaps it is time to walk this path with friends by our side. Together, hand in hand, we can make the world a better place. When we walk together, no one stands alone.

Monday, June 6, 2011

In the Valley

In the valley

All I see

Are the walls

Surrounding me

Darkness falls

Upon my soul

Simple steps

Take their toll

Looking up

Knocks me down

In the muck

I may drown

Spinning left

Spinning right

All my goals

Are out of sight

Silence screams

All around

All my fears

Now resound

My heart

Grows weary

The future

Dreary

I cry out

And I lay down

My falling tears

The only sound

My struggle's done

I can't go on

Just in time

Here comes the dawn

Exhaustion, fear, disappointment, loss, uncertainty, failure, misconceptions, deceit, anger... the list goes on. When these things fill my daily life I slip into the valley of depression. Everything I do seems to turn to dust. Every simple task becomes monumental. Every step seems pointless. I withdraw and hide within myself. The darkness becomes overwhelming and oppressive. I am convinced I cannot go on.

It is in that very moment something changes. A ray of hope touches my heart. An act of kindness soothes my pain. An encouraging word offers strength. A simple hug melts my fears. In that moment I am offered a gift of perspective. We all have dark times. And when we are in the midst of them, they seem to go on forever. The truth is they are simply a valley in between the mountains.

Look again at the picture with perspective...

When sadness fills your heart and depression threatens your very breath, hold on. This is but a moment of your life. Look for the dawn. When you see someone else in a valley, reach out. Be their ray of hope. Help them see the dawn.

This is Dawn...Reaching out...Offering you perspective...

Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Chained Heart

Don't chain my heart

Don't steal my bliss

Can't we learn

To co-exist

You are right

But I'm not wrong

We simply sing

A different song

I know you've lost

So have I

Can't compare

It's not wise

I know you're angry

I feel the same

But I refuse

To hold the blame

I know you're sad

I see your tears

Don't get caught

In all your fears

You have struggles

I have my own

But staying bitter

I can't condone

You expect

Sometimes you judge

That's no reason

To hold a grudge

I disappoint

You disapprove

I understand

I will improve

Don't condemn

My discontent

I'm learning still

I won't relent

I know you try

To understand

I know you're reaching

Out your hand

But my heart

Has it's own beat

And my journey's

Not complete

I am searching

A brand new start

And so I ask

Don't chain my heart

It is true that love is a universal language. But we all interpret, receive and offer love differently. How we experience love and how we maintain the memories in our heart are unique to each of us. Just because someone else does it differently does not mean our experiences are wrong. We each hold love in our heart in a way that speaks to us. We each express love in a way that touches our heart. That is the beauty of love. It touches each of us where we live.

For love to really be experienced fully, it must be offered with no boundaries, no guidelines, no judgements. Only then can love truly heal the heart. Only then can there be growth. Only then can life be lived to the fullest. And when you offer love without restraints, it comes back to you multiplied. When you release the chains on someone else's heart, you also release the chains on your own heart. Love will set you free, if you let it.

Are you ready to be free?

Copyright 2011 Ramblings by Dawn. All rights reserved.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Clark Kent

Sometimes I am superman

But usually just Clark Kent

Sometimes I don my tights and cape

But usually I'm content

To spend my time in suit and tie

And live with good intent

Sure it's great to fly about

And stop the falling trees

And yes it's fine to see the things

That others do not see

But really I would much prefer

To spend my time as me

I'd much prefer

For you to see

The gentle spirit

That lies in me

I'd much prefer

For you to know

The tender heart

And tears that flow

I'd much prefer

For you to feel

The flowing love

I can't conceal

I'd much prefer

You understand

The compassion

Of my hands

I'd much prefer

You could adjust

And know my words

You could trust

I'd much prefer

You could accept me as I am

For I am simply

Just Clark Kent

I have my superman moments. I have my crisis mode. And I have a persona that I show to the people around me. So many times I wish that people could look beyond the "tights and cape" and see just me. Sometimes I pray for just one person to see my heart. Just one person to understand the depth of emotion behind my words. Just one person to see me with all my flaws and realize I am a good person. Just one person to believe that I speak from my heart. Just one person to know the real me.

As I think about my desire to be accepted as I am, I have to look within and ask do I see people for who they are? How many people in my life feel like I do? How many people pray for that one person who understands?

Perhaps it is time to see beyond the "tights and capes". Perhaps it is time to look into the heart of our fellow man.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Love, Really?

I love chocolate

I love ice cream

When you say I love you

Is that what you mean

I love games

I love to sew

When you say I love you

Is that what you know

I love music

I love art

When you say I love you

Is that your heart

I love nature

I love trees

When you say I love you

Do you say it with ease

I love family

I love life

When you say I love you

Does it cause you strife

I love truth

I love light

When you say I love you

Does it feel right

I love people

I love you

When you say I love you

Is it true

Love the all encompassing word. We throw it around like penny candy, which doesn't even exist anymore. We use love to describe a happy feeling we get from trivial things. We use love to describe our attraction to particular things. We use love to express our joy in new discoveries. So when someone says "I love you", how do we know what they mean? Do we really understand what love is?

Love is more than sunshine and rainbows. Love is more than a warm feeling inside you. Love is more than holding hands and skipping down the yellow brick road. Love is a commitment. Love is determination. Love is pulling someone up when they are down. Love is letting go so someone can grow. Love feels great sometimes. Love hurts sometimes. But if it is truly love it will exist through all of life's ups and downs.

Love is so much more than we can understand. Love is unconditional. Love is tough sometimes. Love is what we all need. Perhaps we should show love a little more respect. The next time you use the word love, think about it. Do you really mean love?

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Burning Embers

See the glowing embers

They're burning in my soul

Trying to reach out

Trying to console

See the glowing embers

Can you feel the heat

They're holding my compassion

I can not retreat

See the glowing embers

Do you see their glow

They are filled with love

Wishing to bestow

Patience and some kindness

Everywhere I go

See the glowing embers

I dare not hold them in

For if the fire goes out

Indifference wins again

Is there passion in your soul? Has life and all of it's trappings dimmed your passion? Is your fire going out? Your passion is a gift you have to offer the world. All too often we do just enough to get by. All too often we let the trivial block the view of the bigger picture. All too often we let our passion, our kindness, our compassion lie dormant within us. All too often we let our fears bury the best parts of us. All too often we fail to see the beauty that lies within us. It is time for us to make this world a better place one kind act at a time. It is time to reignite our passion and our love for others. It is time to realize we are in this together. Be brave. Reach out. The love you give will be returned to you in some way.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Block by Block

Block by block

Day by day

Build a life

Along the way

Yarn by yarn

Piece by piece

Builds a heart

Joys increase

Step by step

Hour by hour

Keep moving on

Increase your power

Minute by minute

Brick by brick

Always learning

That's the trick

Don't be afraid

To knock it down

Start again

Turn things around

It's your life

And it's not done

Until the final

Setting sun

Watching a child with building blocks is both frustrating and exciting. They watch as you build a tower. They knock it down. You build it again. They knock it down. You build something else. They knock it down. Each time they knock it down laughter fills the air. Finally, you encourage them to help you build. You show them how to place one block on top of another. You ask them to do the same. Soon they are building their own creation. Theirs looks nothing like yours. But it is beautiful and unique. And of course, they will knock it down.

Teaching a child about life is much the same. You have particular ideas for their life. They will challenge those ideas. You steer them down a particular path. They will find another they wish to try. The beauty of the process is threefold. You learn from the child. The child is learning to make decisions and becoming aware of the world around them. And we are reminded that if something in our life does not work, we can always knock it down and start again. We do not have to keep everything that life offers. We can choose.