Stuff

Stuff
they keep giving me more stuff
as if that will make me happy
as if stuff can fill this void
make my heart stop aching
it fills the room instead
frustrating me even more
keep your stuff please
let me have what I long for
give me home instead

Silver and Gold

These are my rings. They are not extravagant.
They do not sparkle with jewels, one is silver and one is gold.
They are well worn, scratched up, bent, and mishapen.
They are plain and simple, no self respecting thief would bother stealing them.
One was given with love and represents a vow I took ever so long ago "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part."
The other represents a lost treasure that when found was unwanted by anyone but me.
Sometimes I forget how precious they are, and view them as the world would see them, ordinary and nothing special. All it took to remind me was a tiny girl touching my hands and saying "pretty", because to her they are beautiful and amazing, unlike anything she's ever seen.

I think people are a lot like that. To the world they may seem ordinary and nothing special, but to God they are beautiful and amazing. What would happen if we saw everyone in our lives like God sees them? Even more amazing is what would happen if we treated them with love as the beautiful beings God created. Can you even imagine how incredible that would be? How many problems in this life would cease to exist if we treated others like God treats us? How many broken hearts and broken people could we heal? How many relationships could be mended if we treated the other person as being a precious gift to be cherished and not as something disposable, returnable, replaceable? I can only imagine. I have made that mistake before myself, it is something I will always regret.

The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.


© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

What would normal look like?

Sometimes I wish I could be normal just for a day.

I could express how I feel without pissing people off.
I could get things done quickly and efficiently.
I could feel confident enough to go places by myself like church or just for a walk.
I could walk into a store and not panic, because they moved everything around.
I could go where there are crowds of people and not get panicked.
I could sweep and mop the floors without hurting my back.
I could go up and down stairs without my knees bothering me.
I could be supportive without overdoing it.
I could spend time with my friends without worrying about being annoying.
I could express concern for others without acting overbearing.
I could hear people arguing without becoming anxious.
I could take criticism without it affecting my self worth.
I could go someplace without weird smells bothering me.
I could tolerate loud/weird sounds and music, without wanting to cover my ears.
I could wear scratchy sweaters and things with tags, without wanting to scratch my skin off.
I could think clearly and not be distracted by every little sound, movement, and shiny object.
I could tolerate overhead lights, without wanting to wear a hat.
I could tolerate messy rooms without wanting to hide.
I could fill out paperwork without feeling overwhelmed.
I could look in the mirror without seeing every flaw.
I could figure out how to be happy by myself.
I could talk to people without taking things literally.
I could stop obsessing about the future, and what may or may not happen,
and just enjoy the present.


I am not normal, I will never be normal, I can only ever be me.
However perhaps in time and with help, I could become a better me.

21 Days of Inspiration, Wednesday: The Law of Least Effort

I have no idea where this comes from as someone had posted it on a forum I belong to, however I found it helpful so I thought I'd share. Enjoy! ;-)




21 Days of Inspiration
Wednesday: The Law of Least Effort


When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and you're able to create anything you want. When you seek power and control over others, you waste energy chasing the illusion of happiness. Set your intentions on expanding love and you will be able to manifest your desires with effortless ease.


"The softest of stuff in the world quickly penetrates the hardest. Insubstantial, it enters where no room is." ~ Lao-Tzu


Week 3 - Day 18 - Acceptance 


When everything is flowing according to our idea of how things should be, it's easy to feel in harmony with the rhythms of the universe. When there is a lack of alignment between what we want and how our life is unfolding, we're more likely to feel disharmony, stress, or frustration. Yet it is our resistance to what is happening in the present moment that intensifies our distress. Whether we're getting a root canal or finding out that we've lost our job, our fear and the frightening stories we tell ourselves about our situation magnify our pain.


The present moment is not always easy to accept, but learning to listen to the sensations in our body and the message they are sending will calm our emotional turbulence and ultimately will enable us to benefit from the experience.


Connect to your body, accept this moment, know that change is inevitable, and become clear on what you would like to see manifest. Your ability to co-create the next moment requires acceptance of the present.