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.
Yesterday my bride and I went on a lunch date and struck gold at a tiny place called Happy Coffee House that serves a seriously mean Cuban coffee and high quality Cambodian food. It’s a “blink and you’ll miss it” place and your life is a little less rich for having missed it. Look it up if you’re ever in Galveston, Texas.
This successful discover comes right in the heels of another. It is our goal to discover all of the hidden gems near us and so far we’re on a roll! This poem is an ode to those small, out of the way restaurants that are beyond rewarding for those willing to give them a try.
I married an incredible woman.
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.
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.
There is nothing so frustrating as being presented with the opportunity to do what you love, to create something amazing, and finding yourself distracted or frustrated at every turn by countless little things that build up and go wrong until you finally just want to explode. Did not get done everything I wanted to today and pouring my frustration out here. Melodramatic? Probably. Mildly beneficial? Oh yes. Now, if only I didn’t feel like this poem is terrible. Oh well, revisit and revise, right?
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
A poem about DARKNESS? How positively adolescent, right? Don’t worry, it’s not that kind of poem. It’s strange, the places you find hope and renew your passions. Last year taught me a lot about picking myself up after you fall and pushing onward. Difficult as all that was, I am grateful for the lessons.
This one is slightly inspired by a book I’m working on. I’ve always got around a dozen things being juggled at a time it seems. There’s just so much to do, so many seeds of creation to sow. The creative in me cannot stop crying out “More. More!”
I have to pace myself or I’ll burn out and won’t sow anything. I think that’s why I’ve been on such a temporal theme kick with my poetry since starting this project. I’ve become almost hyper aware of the passage of time and just how precious it is. But this morning I celebrate creativity and imagination and let my inner pragmatist rest.
No excuses–yesterday’s poem was not a good one. Sadly, not everything I post here will be. Don’t I wish that were the case. The poem is messy, incoherent, and riddled with mistakes. While my thoughts and heart behind it were beautiful, the execution and result were decidedly not. That’s what revision is for, and with that revision, I think that yesterday’s poem has the potential to be something great.
This thought process is what inspired this morning’s poem. I think I did better this time. I’d appreciate your feedback in the comments if you have a moment to spare. Thank you for reading, by the way.
Without further delay…
The Everyday Poet 