we are capable
of so much more
than just instinct
logic and reasoning
the cornerstone
of the thought process
do…
reflect
analyze
acquire information
develop original ideas
structure concise arguments
make sound decisions
commit to following through on thoughts
debate your decisions rationally
be…
a critical thinker
one’s developed rationale
guides better decisions
turning experiences into lessons
humble and wise
thinkers value the power
of people drawing the best conclusions
Steps in the journey called life…
This world is a maya, An illusion, A creation, magical, To lure and entice With pleasures, suited for the mankind. Stimuli that caresses in various ways Provocations entice and endeavour to deviate. Mind weaves dreams of comfort and ease. Safety of a haven We forever strive to achieve. With our limited foresight, Not knowing what lies ahead We move along blindly; Balancing ourselves, Lured by the promises The illusions, magnificent. Then one day we reach the end Unanticipated distress When the obstacle is insurmountable The pleasures of life Have gnawed and chiseled away The resolve to brave the odds. Walking on a narrow strip, one realises There is no going back.
Good or bad, it’s all we have.
Let the feelings soak in thoroughly, marinate around you,
then act accordingly. It’s all at your pace.
This is your life.
Only dead people aren’t alive anymore.
Thanks for the inspiration, David! ❤
what we see is just the shell
the miracle of you
lays dormant
you grow with confidence
but only by deciding
what’s true for you
may you have nurturers
surrounding you
loving you whole
and may you become
who you are capable of being
sharing the greatness within
every day challenges us to the good fight
for friends, for family, the world and for me
this reality needs coddling
daily righting wrongs
our existence depends on it
for that, i am a warrior
… albeit, sometimes a tired one
This piece inspires more than just hope, that gusto is within reach even though the times would tell us otherwise. Shortly before posting, a distraction from Facebook had me reading this sentiment…
“At the present time, I long only to sleep. I am sick of humanity.” by A. Camus
While Paul’s poem is certainly one of hope and optimism, a desire to experience, having both thoughts present in our beings seems to highlight the oddity that is 2020. We want for both and vacillate in between the two haphazardly it seems.
Photo: livestrong.com
“Something in us is telling us we’re moving too fast, at a pace dictated by machines rather than anything human, and that unless we take conscious measures, we’ll permanently be out of breath.” Pico Iyer
Everyday at waking hoping,
longing for an
uprising of integrity,
a coup of love,
a kindness rebellion,
a riot of charity,
to overwhelm my senses,
and wash me with such gratitude,
that even now
I might breathe again
as I once did
long ago.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com.
Honored to have Life Is Off and Taking My Temperature accepted for this project! It is so important that we have places to store the feelings and the emotions this year of upheaval has given us. Hopefully it will gain us insight for what not to do in the future should this type of life-altering event occur again.
I’d recommend you browse through all the other submissions too. The creativity, the honesty, the heartbreak of all their experiences is rich with what we would call “The Human Experience.” So much resonates with the fear, the uncertainty and just how much life stays the same too. We share in order to survive.
If you have something you’d like to share, please do become a part of this project!
Submit your story
like out of a sci-fi film
the tension builds
as our reality becomes an unrealistic
and an unwanted fantasy
we’d never have dreamt up willingly
personal habits mutated overnight, for some
people affected before our eyes, everyone
all steps ventured became tentative
a feeling of a strange abnormal that couldn’t be defined
the markers of who to be kept changing
many were lost, not just the dead
their lives upended with new realities of despair
retreating into themselves, forced there
alone with the grim reaper
loved ones watching from afar, helpless
covid-19 will cease to be eventually
oh, but the cost of the lessons learned
as mentally, emotionally and physically we heal
the scars of devastation will linger
the pain of the losses great
as we, the left behind, begin to emerge anew
Image Credits – Unsplash
#1 CDC
#2 Hello I’m Nik
#3 Chloe Evans
#4 Edwin Hooper
like a chick let out
from its white cage
the fear is real
but the adventure more compelling
decisions of our own making
choices for our betterment
commitments for happiness
actions causing joy
when we dare live
what our journey should be
where we choose our state of bliss
how enriching is that?
