Day 34: Untitled

First time sharing a poem and not giving it a title. I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, or suggestions. Let me know what you think it should be called in the comments below!

Been thinking on the nature of forgiveness and resentment this morning. Consider the act of simply letting go something that frustrates you or a wrong that has been done. Simple right? Easy, not so much. How does one actually perform the act of release? It’s a choice but is that the end of it? I don’t think so. I think forgiveness is a continuous series of choices, or perhaps a single choice set on repeat, that is at worst set to an eternal repeat.

Failure to make the choice, however often it needs to be made, results in holding tight to something. Something that might give you power. Something that might burn you from the inside out. Something that might turn toxic and burn people it’s not intended for.

I was asked the other day if I EVER got mad or angry. I do. Only I do one of two things with it. I let it go right away. Or I hold onto it, or a part of it, and bury it deep, where it slowly accumulates like a landfill until it spills over in passive aggressive acts or an unfounded explosion. Probably oversharing here. Just processing this habit of mine, contemplating the effects, and how to prevent it from happening or finding an appropriate outlet.

Untitled

Day 33: Ritual

I am one of those people who does exceptionally well when I know what is going to happen. Routines, systems, habits–these things help to energize and propel me forward. I like structure and knowing the next piece I’ll need to build with. There’s a power to this that is sacred and it occurred to me that like so many of the tools we have available at our fingertips in such abundance, how we use this tool, or misuse it, can alter the course of our entire life.

Ritual

Day 32: Fort of Fog

For the very first time our “day” doesn’t match up with our “date.” It’s a really good feeling. 32 days of poetry and counting! Just 333 more days of poetry to go! Love that number, 333.

Yesterday a rainstorm rolled through and left a blanket of fog covering everything. It’s still with us today and inspires this afternoon’s poem.

Enjoy the first poem of our second month on this creative journey.

Fort of Fog

Day 30: Anti-Inertia

If you are a creative and you have not read The War of Art, I highly encourage you to do so. The author speaks of the enemy of creatives and calls it “resistance.” I was thinking on it today as I push myself to create more and more works.

Anti-Inertia

Day 29: Origin of Will

What is your motivation? Is it powerful enough to light a fire inside of you to overcome the inertia called fear that life throws at us? If I could, I would burn away all trace of lethargy and hesitation from myself and hurl my energies into the act of creation.

Fear shall not paralyze me not kill my desire. I invite all who read this to join me in the quest to find the origin of our will power and with it, the agency to achieve.

Origin of Will

Day 28: Supercharged Superhighways

Had some interesting thoughts about the nature of thought, the transformation of thought into action, the process that undergoes, and how the way we choose to think, the thoughts that we focus on and allow ourselves to have, shape who we are and what we are capable of. While dwelling on this I reread Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and the idea of thoughts following highways in our brains that we have constructed occurred to me. Hardly a new concept but it stuck with me and insisted upon being today’s subject.

Supercharged Superhighways

Day 25: Human Art

I read a fascinating article the other day about a scientist in trouble in China for editing several embryos so that the children were immune to HIV. A brought this article up to an acquaintance who was shocked that the man was not in trouble simply for the fact that he had genetically modified human children (one set of twins has already been born) but because China has a strict policy against allowing carriers of HIV to have children. In his words, the man was tampering with God’s design. I have my own opinions on genetic manipulation and I have a hard time seeing it as “evil.” Thanks to this scientist there are now at least two people in the world who will NEVER have to suffer HIV. To me, that speaks of blessing, not blasphemy.

It does raise questions though. How long before genetic alterations become common place? How will we use this new technology? How will we abuse it? It’s coming one way or another.

Human Art

Day 19: Telepathic Cycle

If you haven’t read Stephen King’s “On Writing” and you are a creative writer, I highly recommend it. A passage from King’s book has stuck with me through the years, in which he describes the art of writing as an act of telepathy. Through writing we are literally reading each other’s thought, putting hem directly from one brain into another, regardless of time or space between us. An interesting thought to consider, no?

The holiday season was crazy, and it’s been a blissfully tumultuous start to the new year. Throughout which, I’ve been writing. Poetry is easier because it’s shorter and for me comes in bursts, but I love writing my novels and telling stories. I’ve been pushing myself to write and publish more of them and finally – FINALLY – my efforts have been rewarded and a routine for regular creation is coming into effect. This morning, after I finish my coffee, start of the day rituals, and walk the dog, I get to answer my calling and delve into my vocation.

Today I get to write. I am thrilled.

Telepathic Cycle

Day 17: Deciding Reality

Starting today fresh, centered, and powerful. The key to success is perseverance. It’s not how many times you fall. It’s how many times you get back up.

As the Man in Black said: I don’t give up because I don’t give up. I don’t believe in it.

There’s power in belief. In decisions. We use these tools to define our reality in a truly remarkable way that is empowering to contemplate.

Today is a new beginning. I’m deciding to believe that.

Deciding Reality

Day 15: Speak

I visited a group last night dedicated to public speaking where I ended up giving an impromptu 3-5 minute speech. I found myself reciting yesterday’s poem and sharing my goals and resolutions for this year. Objectively, I think I did well, definitely room for improvement though, but standing in front of strangers and speaking brings up all kinds of feelings–many of them physical. The funny thing is how much of it hit me AFTER I was done. Very glad I went. I sense a great opportunity for personal development here.

Here’s a trivia question for you. What percentage of people suffer from glossophobia?

27 Useful Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

Speak