Wake Me Up When I Am Deluding Myself

Wake me up when I am deluding myself

If you love me and you are a friend

For many are the thoughts, words, and behaviors

I may need to change before my life's end.

So many of my ways of thinking and acting are by habit

Some unexamined since I was young, maybe even little, or small

Now by submitting my thoughts, words, and actions to your scrutiny

I hope to find out which ones are okay, which ones not at all.

I may have double standards I am unaware of

And I may say and do things out of long-held habits or beliefs, including thinking I am always in the right

Don't worry about calling me out on anything

Because frankly, It is better for me to know the truth

And to find out what my arrogance and blindness has hidden from plain sight.

I want to be remembered as a decent human being

And to achieve that, it's what I must do

I must find out all my blind spots

And for that, I am counting on you.

I think my choices are fine as they are

But that's because I look in the mirror, and see what I want to see

Like the emperor who didn't know he was naked

I may be my own worst enemy.

So help me please by opening my eyes

To things that are important, and which I may have ignored

For I want to be remembered as a decent human being

And you can be my lightning rod.

You didn't know, it but you signed up for the boot camp of friendship

When you became one of my family members. or one of my friends,

And I am counting on you to help me become a better person

Between now and my life's end.

When We Are Angry, Hateful, or Revengeful

When we are angry, hateful, or revengeful

When we are irritated, annoyed, or upset

When we feel cornered, or our ego is threatened

Or tiredness or sickness makes us fret.

We cannot be a wise physician

We cannot be a caring mom or dad

We cannot be a loving teacher

We cannot be a refuge, or help someone who is suffering or sad.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts from the inside.

When we are in a hurry to justify our actions

To defend some choice we have made

Or because we don't want to get a side of the bargain that is inconvenient,

We act in unthoughtful haste.

We cannot be a caring friend

We cannot be someone who is kind

We cannot be an example of closeness, friendship, or kindredship

The source of which is a loving, caring, and understanding mind.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

When we are dedicated to a course of thought or action

And are not willing to consider we might not be right

When we are so locked into ideas, thoughts, or isms

That we use words and actions thoughtlessly, or to deride or divide.

We cannot be loving and wise partners, or family members

We cannot be humble, thoughtful, rational, and fair

We cannot be good managers, stewards, or leaders

Of the people or things entrusted to our care.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

When we approach a situation with unrealistic expectations

Instead of with understanding and good intent

When an agenda causes us to use emotional blackmail 

And we use words that hit below the belt.

We seed sadness instead of happiness

We seed stress instead of solace, refuge, and support

We seed disconnection instead of connection

Which is unfortunate, because connection is what families, communities, countries, and the world needs more of.

We have to think about this.  We have to think about this.

And we have to think about whether we want to move to a higher response level.

A more compassionate response level.

And how might we go about that?

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

We have to think about this.  Think about this.

Since all beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

All beauty comes from the inside.

It starts on the inside.

The train is leaving. The train is leaving

The train is leaving.

The train is leaving.

I have to jump on the train before it leaves.

I have to jump on the train to success

I have to jump on the train to the home of my dreams

I have to jump on the train to having a credential at the end of my name, and to professional, financial, and societal status.

The train is leaving.

The train is leaving.

I have to jump on the train before it leaves.

I have to jump on the train and lose weight

I have to jump on the train and buy those things on sale before they are gone

I have to jump on the train to see that movie, or play that game everyone is talking about.

The train is leaving.

The train is leaving.

I have to jump on the train before it leaves.

I have to jump on the train to try out that new restaurant or bar

I have to jump on the train to find true love and get married

I have to jump on the train to see wonderful places, to go to that concert or game.

The train is leaving.

The train is leaving.

I have to jump on the train before it leaves.

I have to jump on the train and buy that stock

I have to jump on the train and get some crypto

I have to jump on the train and participate in the latest gold rush.

The train is leaving.

The train is leaving.

I have to jump on the train before it leaves.

And then I stop and think

While I wash my dishes

And fold my clothes

And tidy up around me

There is another train coming

I don't need to rush.

And so I hear the clang of the train that is leaving

And listen to it without the urgent thought I have to jump on it before it leaves

I let the train leave the station without me.

And I keeping washing my dishes

And folding my clothes

And tidying up around me

Realizing it is what I need to do at the moment

Attend to the things that need my immediate attention.

And the clanging of the trains that are leaving don’t bother me anymore.

As Different As You Are From Me

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

I share the world with you

We both walk planet earth

Using our feet

We both talk, sing, hum, shout using our mouths

We both smell flowers with our noses

We both use our hands to make and create things, and to put food into our mouths

We both use our eyes to see

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

As different as we are

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

We both need air to breathe

We both seek food for energy

We both seek water to quench our thirst

We both seek sleep and recovery from injuries and illnesses

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

As different as we are

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

We both yawn when we are sleepy

Both our stomachs rumble when we are hungry

We both sneeze when there is something in our noses

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

As different as we are

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

We both were born

We both will die

We both started out life as helpless babies

We both had to find a way to keep ourselves alive, and protect ourselves from the elements and dangers in whatever way possible

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

As different as we are

As different as you are from me

As different as I am from you

We both know what it is to love

What it is to feel joy

What it is to suffer

What it is to feel sick

What it is to feel frightened

What it is to feel hungry

What it is to feel thirsty

What it is to feel alone

What it is to feel sad

What it is to think about things

What it is to imagine things

What it is to have fears, dreams, worries, and anxieties

And if I am on the outside looking in of your circle

And if you are on the outside looking in of my circle

It's only because we are unable to see

That as different as you are from me

And as different as I am from you

We are really not that different

We are more similar than we are different

We are quite the same

As different as we are

So it is my hope

And I hope it will be your hope too

And it is my prayer

And I hope it will be your prayer too

That we can both forget how different we are 

And we can both come together for a purpose

The purpose of helping those who are

Suffering

Sick

Frightened

Hungry

Thirsty

Lonely

Sad

After all, we both know what it is to feel those things

We both know that well

As different as we are

A New Year's Wish

A time to chase, hustle, and achieve
A time to observe, meditate, and be

One follows the other
One follows the other

A time to consume, acquire, and accumulate
A time to abstain, avoid, and let go

One follows the other
One follows the other

A time for habit and routine
A time for exploration and freedom to choose

One follows the other
One follows the other

A time for ego and vanity
A time for humility and curiosity

One follows the other
One follows the other

A time for duty and obligations
A time for relaxation and restoration

One follows the other
One follows the other

A time for a full and busy mind
A time for an attentive and quiet mind

One follows the other
One follows the other

A perfect moment to rest
A perfect moment to reconnect

One follows the other
One follows the other

Whatever state or season you are in, Dear Reader, I wish you the full and blessed use of your time in the year ahead.

May you use your time well.
Every little bit of it.
All of it.

The moment is the gift, you and I, and each one of us in the world, has.

May you be present every single moment of time that is gifted to you in the new year.

Happy New Year to all of us.