Live and Let Go

Every day is a wonderful gracious gift to us all. Always try to remember that from hour to hour and day to day. And live your life that way.

 

Most of the negativity and difficulties we experience in life don’t matter much. We’re simply fortunate to be here breathing the same air, enjoying the same sunshine, and experiencing everything in life that we get to experience. For there are many reasons why we might not be here today:

 

– All of the close calls pushing us to the brink of nuclear annihilation, for one, over the past 70 years or so.

 

– Parents not meeting, for another, and the chain of parents all through the ages (think about that for a long, hard moment).

 

– Uncontrollable disease for yet another, etc, etc.

 

So I encourage you to reflect on these kinds of things and to live your life as if a precious gift has been handed you. Because it has including everything it contains such as those who surround you, the place where you live, all you possess, and all you experience. All of this has been given to you by the most gracious of givers. Never forget it.

 

This is your life. Live it, appreciate all you have and get to experience, and let go of negativity. Because it truly does not matter.

 

This is your life. Live it.

 

This and other happiness and self-improvement related tips are provided throughout my self-help oriented books: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/published-books-and-life-coaching-services/ 

 

#selfimprovement #selfhelp #selfdevelopment #intention #fulfillment #success #inspiration #happiness

HAPPINESS TIP: BE WHO YOU ARE NOT MATTER WHAT!

Here’s a simple tip for experiencing true happiness throughout the days, weeks, years, and decades of your life: 1) Discover who you are (or keep exploring until you do), 2) Embrace and be okay with who you are, and 3) Be who you are in all of its color and glory (no matter what others think, believe, express, or attempt to convince otherwise!).
 
If you do this, you will live an authentic life filled with all of the happiness, peace, freedom, and excitement you could possibly hope for. It is YOUR life experience (and nobody else’s)! Live it that way!
 
A few years ago, a woman I met seemed a bit embarrassed about being “a geek”. Well, I told her to embrace that quality, hold her head high, and be a geek with a capital G! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with discovering who you are and being who you are. So, always remember that!
 
Another aspect of being who you are is the positive effect if can have on others. For example, people frequently tell me that I have a calming effect on them when they are in my presence. Many times, because of this people like being around me even if all we do is sit and enjoy the silence. It’s so wonderful being appreciated that way. But I wouldn’t be able to create this positive effect if I wasn’t true to myself and didn’t lead an authentic life.

Now, what some people may not understand about me is that I do a lot of things on my own and enjoy it. Although, many times I’m alone, I’m not lonely, and I’m actually happy. So, while I greatly appreciate the polite gestures I sometimes receive I’m really just being me and I’m happy being me.

For example, recently I went to the movies and was the only person there. Many people would have freaked out a little about that, but I was like, “Wow! How nice! I have the entire movie theater to myself!”.

So, find out who you are, be okay with who you are, and be who you are no matter what others think, believe, express, or attempt to convince otherwise. If you do, you will feel happy and at peace for much of the time. And you will have this peace and happiness to offer to others. So do this for yourself if you can.

This and other happiness and self-improvement related tips are provided throughout my self-help oriented books: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/published-books-and-life-coaching-services/ 

#selfimprovement #selfhelp #selfdevelopment #intention #fulfillment #success #inspiration #happiness #relationships

☆°▪︎ THE WANDERING TURNS ▪︎°☆

It’s

.

y

o

u

r

.

lead,

.

.

m

y

.

.

follow . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

follow . . .

.

.

.

It’s

.

y

o

u

r

.

bait,

.

.

m

y

.

.

swallow . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

swallow . . .

.

.

.

I

swallow

.

d

o

w

n

.

the

twisting

rounds . . .

.

.

.

I

swallow

.

d

o

w

n

.

the

ups

.

a

n

d

.

downs . . .

.

.

.

I
swallow . . .

.

.

.

It’s

.

y

o

u

r

.

bait,

.

.

m

y

.

.

swallow . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

swallow . . .

.

.

.

It’s

.

y

o

u

r

.

lead,

.

.

m

y

.

.

follow . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

I

follow . . .

.

.

.

I

follow

you

.

d

o

w

n

.

into

.

t

h

e

.

wandering

turns . . .

.

.

.

I

follow

you

.

d

o

w

n

.

into

.

t

h

e

.

whirling 

blur . . .

.

.

.

I

follow . . .

.

.

.

It’s

.

y

o

u

r

.

lead,

.

.

m

y

.

.

follow . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

follow . . .

.

.

.

It’s

.

y

o

u

r

.

bait,

.

.

m

y

.

.

swallow . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

swallow.

Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in January of 2017 where the affected party repeatedly falls victim to outside influences – and has difficulty breaking the negative cycle.

☆°▪︎ THE HAUNTING INTENSITY ▪︎°☆

Did

.

y

o

u

.

see

.

t

h

e

.

sunset 

s-c-r-e-a-m-i-n-g . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

sunset 

s-c-r-e-a-m-i-n-g . . .

.

.

.

out

.

t

o

.

you

.

a

n

d

.

me,

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

.

across

.

t

h

e

.

sea . . .

.

.

.

The

end

.

o

f

.

summer

.

i

s

.

drawing

near . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

the

autumn

.

o

f

.

our

days,

.

.

w

i

l

l

.

.

soon

.

b

e

.

here . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

autumn

.

o

f

.

our

days,

.

.

w

i

l

l

.

.

soon

.

b

e

.

here . . .

.

.

.

Did

.

y

o

u

.

see . . .

.

.

.

Did

.

y

o

u

.

feel . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

the

sweet,

teasing

ecstasy

between

you

.

a

n

d

.

me,

.

.

w

i

l

l

.

.

never

.

d

a

n

c

e

.

again

.

w

i

t

h

.

such

.

storming

intensity . . .

.

.

.

=>>>>!ADVANCE!=>>>>

<<<<=!RETREAT!<<<<=

=>>>>!ADVANCE!=>>>>

<<<<=!RETREAT!<<<<=

=>>>>!ADVANCE!=>>>>

=>>>>!ADVANCE!=>>>>

=>>>>!ADVANCE!=>>>>

<<<<=!RETREAT!<<<<=

.

.

.

t

o

the 

thundering . . .

.

.

.

t

o

the 

thundering . . .

.

.

.

t

o

the 

thundering . . .

.

.

.

o

f

all

.

a

n

d

.

everything

.

y

o

u

.

mean 

.

t

o

.

me . . .

.

.

.

Did

.

y

o

u

.

see

.

t

h

e

.

sunset 

s-c-r-e-a-m-i-n-g . . .

.

.

.

Did

.

y

o

u

.

see

.

t

h

e

.

sunset 

s-c-r-e-a-m-i-n-g . . .

.

.

.

Did

.

y

o

u

.

see

.

t

h

e

.

sunset 

s-c-r-e-a-m-i-n-g . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

always

comes

.

t

h

e

.

end . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

always

comes

.

t

h

e

.

end . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

always

comes

.

t

h

e

.

end . . .

.

.

.

when

nothing

could

ever

.

b

e

.

as

.

good

again.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in September of 2016 where the contemplator looks back with sadness on a wonderful romance had in the past when realizing nothing else since has even come close to being as good. This was the third of three poems I wrote that were largely inspired by the movie: “Holding the Man.” I actually hated the title of this movie, but thought it was an excellent movie overall.

☆°▪︎ BEYOND THE HAZE ▪︎°☆

Together

.

w

e

.

walked

away

.

i

n

.

a

dazed,

shell-shocked

haze . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

once,

angry

guns

.

o

f

.

blistering

.

r

a

g

e

.

pounding

.

o

u

r

.

resounding

love

.

o

f

.

nonconforming

disgrace . . .

.

.

.

day,

.

.

a

f

t

e

r

.

.

night,

.

.

a

f

t

e

r

.

.

day . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

then

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

.

silent

beyond

.

t

h

e

.

rubble

.

w

h

i

c

h

.

remained . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

rubble

.

o

f

.

all

.

t

h

e

.

presentable,

acceptable,

respectable

ways . . .

.

.

.

w

e

once

learned

.

t

o

.

embrace

within

.

t

h

e

.

days . . .

.

.

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

days

.

o

f

.

yesterday . . .

.

.

.

We

were

.

t

h

e

r

e

with

.

t

h

e

.

haunting 

haze

.

i

n

.

the

air . . .

.

.

.

when

attempting

.

o

u

r

.

escape,

beyond

.

t

h

e

.

gates

.

o

f

.

bitter

judgment

.

a

n

d

.

hate . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

suddenly

.

w

e

.

broke 

away . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

suddenly

.

w

e

.

broke

away . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

suddenly

.

w

e

.

broke 

away . . .

.

.

.

Freedom

came

.

o

u

r

.

way

.

t

h

a

t

.

day,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

we

.

w

i

l

l

.

never

return

.

t

o

.

that

place . . .

.

.

.

s

o

take

.

m

y

.

hand,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

let’s

pick-up

.

t

h

e

.

pace . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

the

exhilarating

wave

.

o

f

.

our

.

n

e

w

.

future

waits,

where

.

w

e

.

can

live,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

love,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

gaze,

without

shame . . .

.

.

.

 ~ where

.

w

e

.

can

live,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

love,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

gaze,

without

shame . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

all

.

o

f

.

our

days,

which

.

s

t

i

l

l

.

remain.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in September of 2016 where the romantic parties bravely and unashamedly claim and passionately pursue their nonconforming love – even against the overwhelming forces of family and societal resistance. This was the second of three poems I wrote that were largely inspired by the movie: “Holding the Man.” This poem was primarily inspired by a specific scene in the movie: John leaves his home with Tim much to his father’s dismay. I actually hated the title of this movie, but thought it was an excellent movie overall.

☆°▪︎ THE TURNING OF THE TURN ▪︎°☆

I

still

.

remember

.

t

h

e

turning

.

o

f

the 

turn . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the 

yearning

.

o

f

.

the 

yearn . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

it

hurts . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

even

.

a

s

.

one,

.

.

o

u

r

.

.

hearts

.

h

a

v

e

.

parted,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

we

.

c

a

n

.

never

return

.

t

o

.

the

.

w

a

y

.

things

started . . .

.

.

.

w

h

e

n

we

.

h

a

d

.

breathless

pages

.

y

e

t

.

to

discover,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

so

feverishly

wished

.

f

o

r

.

none

.

b

u

t

.

each

other . . .

.

.

.

At

first

.

t

h

e

.

curse

was

.

t

h

e

.

yearning 

turn . . .

.

.

.

b

u

t

later

became

.

t

h

e

.

turning 

yearn . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

yearning 

turn

.

f

o

r

something 

more . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

turning

yearn

.

f

o

r

.

the

days

.

o

f

.

before . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

turning

yearn

.

f

o

r

.

the

days

.

o

f

.

before . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

it

hurts . . .

.

.

.

s

o

we

.

c

a

n

.

never

return

.

t

o

.

the

.

w

a

y

.

things

started,

.

.

w

h

e

n

.

.

eager

hearts

thundered

.

d

o

w

n

.

the

runways

charted . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

it

hurts . . .

.

.

.

It

hurts

because

.

w

e

.

will

never 

laugh,

dance,

frolic,

.

.

o

r

.

.

play,

.

.

t

h

e

.

.

way

.

w

e

.

did

.

i

n

.

those

days . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

the

sun

.

w

i

l

l

.

solely

remain

.

i

n

.

that

place . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

never

shine

t

h

a

t

.

way

again . . .

.

.

.

 ~ it

.

w

i

l

l

.

never

shine

t

h

a

t

.

way

again . . .

.

.

.

s

o

I

turn

away . . .

.

.

.

I

turn

away . . .

.

.

.

Today

.

w

e

.

share

.

t

h

e

.

hours

.

w

h

i

c

h

.

remain,

.

.

b

u

t

.

.

it’s

not

.

t

h

e

.

same . . .

.

.

.

 ~ no,

it’s

.

n

o

t

.

the

same . . .

.

.

.

s

o

I

search

.

f

o

r

.

that

place . . .

.

.

.

I

search

.

f

o

r

.

that

place . . .

.

.

.

I

search

.

f

o

r

.

that

place . . .

.

.

.

where

forevers

.

s

o

.

warmly

embraced,

before

.

t

h

e

.

change . . .

.

.

.

 ~ before

.

t

h

e

.

change,

when

.

t

h

e

.

bet

w

a

s

.

placed,

.

.

t

o

.

gamble

away

.

t

h

e

.

golden

grace,

.

.

o

f

.

.

a

.

young

romance

.

i

n

.

a

dance

.

s

t

i

l

l

.

dancing,

within

.

a

.

daydream 

trance . . .

.

.

.

 ~ a

dance

.

s

t

i

l

l

.

dancing,

within

.

a

.

daydream 

trance . . .

.

.

.

I

still

.

remember

.

t

h

e

turning

.

o

f

the 

turn . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the 

yearning

.

o

f

.

the 

yearn . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

it

hurts.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in August of 2016 where the contemplator is haunted by, and looks back with, heavy regret on a wonderful romance experienced in the past – where some kind of change happened or was introduced at some point. And once that change occurred, the romance never had the same magic, warmth, passion, or luster ever again. The contemplator repeatedly revisits and, with a heavy heart, longs to go back and do something different so the change never happens – but there is no going back, and nothing can help in any way because the damage was done, and the change is now permanent. This was the first of three poems I wrote that were largely inspired by the movie: “Holding the Man.” I actually hated the title of this movie, but thought it was an excellent movie overall.

☆°▪︎ THE SHY GOODBYE ▪︎°☆

I

might

have

noticed

.

t

h

e

.

smile

behind

– 

your

eyes . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

the

promise

behind

.

t

h

e

.

smile . . .

.

.

.

b

u

t

it

was

.

t

h

e

.

shy 

goodbye

that

brought

.

t

h

e

.

tear

.

t

o

.

my

eye . . .

.

.

.

~ the

shy

goodbye

which

absorbed

.

m

y

.

mind . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

haunted

.

m

y

.

hindsight . . .

.

.

.

it

made

.

m

e

realize,

you

were

.

y

e

t

.

another

twilight

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

recognize . . .

.

.

.

~ another

deeply

dawning,

starlit

sky

.

o

f

.

lost 

opportunity

gone

by.

Reflection:  

This poem was written as a reflection on missed romantic opportunities. I had so many of those earlier in my life that in order to overcome my shy nature with respect to initiating conversations with others I did not know, I created and adopted the expression: “I’d rather try than be haunted by…” because the potential discomfort and awkwardness of trying and getting shunned was less painful than the haunting, restless thoughts of what might have been. So, it reminded me to always make my best effort no matter how awkward it might seem.

Now, the flip side of this was that I got so good at it that I ended up with a lot of acquaintances but not much more. So, several years later, I penned the line: “fewer, deeper” as my mantra to remind me to focus on a select few to have deeper relationships with.

☆°▪︎ THE DYING GREEN ▪︎°☆

The 

sweet,

sleepy,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

serene . . .

.

.

.

a

r

e

the

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

.

drifting 

leaves

.

f

r

o

m

the 

trees . . .

.

.

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

drifting . . .

.

.

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

drifting . . .

.

.

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

drifting . . .

.

.

.

i

n

the 

breeze . . .

.

.

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

from

.

t

h

e

trees . . .

.

.

.

f

a

l

l

i

n

g

from

.

t

h

e

trees . . .

.

.

.

o

f

how

things

– 

used

.

t

o

.

be . . .

.

.

.

drifting

.

i

n

.

the

breeze . . .

.

.

.

drifting

.

i

n

.

the

breeze . . .

.

.

.

drifting

.

i

n

.

the

breeze . . .

.

.

.

o

f

a

.

n

e

w

.

regime . . .

.

.

.

 ~ of

a

.

n

e

w

.

regime . . .

.

.

.

where

.

t

h

e

sweet,

sleepy,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

serene . . .

.

.

.

wake

to

.

t

h

e

dying

green . . .

.

.

.

 ~ they

wake

to

.

t

h

e

dying

green . . .

.

.

.

o

f

someone

else’s

dream,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

grieve

.

t

h

e

.

lack

.

o

f

.

peace

.

i

t

.

brings . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

– 

it’s

truly

.

n

o

t

.

where

.

t

h

e

y

.

otherwise

.

w

o

u

l

d

.

mean

.

t

o

.

be.

Reflection: This was a reflective-themed poem that I wrote back in August of 2016 in reflection of those who tend to go with the flow, complain when things don’t go their way, but rarely fight for much of anything. So, in short, they get what they get – and that is all.

☆°▪︎ ADDICTION ▪︎°☆

It

was

.

t

h

e

.

urge

.

before

.

t

h

e

.

yearn . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

heat

.

before

.

t

h

e

.

burn . . .

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

learn . . .

.

.

.

It

was

.

t

h

e

.

sip

before

.

t

h

e

.

surge . . .

.

.

.

 ~ the

rapture

.

before

.

t

h

e

.

turn . . .

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

learn . . .

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

learn . . .

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

learn . . .

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

learn . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

tomorrow 

arrived

again

today,

.

.

w

i

t

h

.

.

the

.

same

.

future

.

a

s

.

yesterday . . .

.

.

.

 ~ with

.

t

h

e

.

same

.

future

.

a

s

.

yesterday . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

I

almost

.

found

.

a

.

way

.

t

o

.

pay . . .

.

.

.

 ~ I

almost

.

found

.

a

.

way.

Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in July of 2016 where the affected party struggles with a negative cycle-of-addiction on constant repeat which ends up consuming his/her life – leaving not much of anything left.

☆°▪︎ TOO ▪︎°☆

There

once

.

w

a

s

.

a

time

.

i

n

.

the

days

.

o

f

.

youth,

when

.

m

y

.

pages

exploded

– 

with

.

t

h

e

.

howling

tunes

.

o

f

.

wildly,

romantic

moons . . .

.

.

.

There 

once

.

w

a

s

.

a

time . . .

.

.

.

b

u

t

now

.

t

h

e

.

days

.

a

r

e

.

not

.

a

s

.

new,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

I

begin

.

t

o

.

serve

.

a

.

colder

brew . . .

.

.

.

 ~ a

colder 

brew

.

o

f

.

blue . . .

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

colder

brew

.

o

f

.

“truth”

.

.

.

I

thought

someday

.

.

I

might

return

.

t

o

.

that

room,

where

.

t

h

e

.

howling

wild

.

m

i

g

h

t

.

bloom

anew . . .

.

.

.

I

thought

someday

.

.

I

might

return

.

t

o

.

that

room . . .

.

.

.

b

u

t

everyone

.

h

a

s

.

become

“too” . . .

.

.

.

Too

nice

.

o

r

.

too

cruel . . .

.

.

.

 ~ too

determined

.

t

o

.

win

.

o

r

.

lose . . .

.

.

.

Too

many 

issues

.

o

r

.

too

few . . .

.

.

.

 ~ too

easy

.

o

r

.

too

difficult

.

t

o

.

choose . . .

.

.

.

Too

much

.

o

r

.

too

little

.

t

o

.

prove . . .

.

.

.

 ~ too

intent

.

o

n

.

using

.

o

r

.

being

used . . .

.

.

.

Too

intense

.

o

r

.

too

loose . . .

.

.

.

 ~ too

eager

.

t

o

.

make

.

i

t

.

happen 

soon . . .

.

.

.

If

you’re

going

.

t

o

.

race

around

madly

.

t

o

.

capture

romantic

moons,

you

better

.

d

o

.

it

soon,

while

.

t

h

e

.

days

.

a

r

e

.

new . . .

.

.

.

 ~ you

better

.

d

o

.

it

soon,

before

.

i

t

.

becomes

“too” . . .

.

.

.

I

know

it’s

me . . .

.

.

.

I

know

it’s

me . . .

.

.

.

I

know

it’s

me . . .

.

.

.

 ~ it

.

i

s

.

not

you . . .

.

.

.

f

o

r

everyone

.

h

a

s

become

“too.”

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in July of 2016 where the romancer begins to realize romances do not come as easy as they used to – because over time preferences, experiences, expectations, reservations, histories, judgements, and such tend to get in the way.