That Harsh Reality

It is a feeling I know well–
Like I should be doing more
To pursue certain aspirations.
Watching my good friend,
Sitting in front of a crowd
And strumming and singing away
Always inspires me…
Makes me want to rush home,
Press or pluck a tune
Or pen some lyrics
But then there’s that stupid reality
That says dreams like mine,
Performing for the world,
Happen once in a blue moon
And only if circumstances are right.
It’s kind of a harsh reality
But I guess it’s better to realize
It all now and pursue a living
While I pursue my passion
On the side whenever I can.
If only there were time to do it all…

Clean Cut

Take a knife, sharp and sure,
and cut… Cut out
what isn’t necessary.
Leave no jagged edges
reaching for the missing part…
Reaching for what’s not there
does no one any good.

Make it a clean cut–
wanting nothing more.
It’s hard to miss something
when no part of it lingers.

Make it a clean cut–
It won’t hurt as much.
A knife can only be as strong
as the one who wields it.

Make it a clean cut–
Your sanity will thank you.
The sacrifice may hurt at first…
but will only do you good.

Getting over expectations…

Expectations can either set you up for success or for failure.

Holding high expectations for yourself can be a great thing…
That means you are working towards something you value.
It’s the good kind of pressure to progress.

When expectations come from an outside source, that’s when it’s the bad pressure.
You may feel like you have to live up to those standards and if you don’t, they will disappointed.

The problem is… A lot of people care more about what people think about them than how they feel about themselves.
It may feel good living up to outside expectations, but unless you’re doing it for you, it’s not really worth it.

You’re worth more than what someone else makes of you.
Expect more of yourself to overcome the expectations of others.
No one else’s should matter when it comes to your own happiness.

the fickleness of it all

Why do we remember when we want to forget?
Why do we forget when we want to remember?
The mind is a fickle thing, never really thinking on its own.

Why do we love to hate, but hate to love
and why do we love to fall in love
but hate ourselves when we can’t pull ourselves up after?

Why can’t we forget to hate
or remember to love unconditionally
despite whatever games our minds play?

*   *   *

I’ve decided to move The Favorite to air on Tuesdays instead… Thursdays are just too busy to get something as substantial for this series done. This does give you more time to vote on how the story should continue though! See Pt. 3 for more details.

on a silver platter

what would you do if someone handed you everything
presented on a pretty silver platter?

would you take it without a second thought
or look at it and wonder why?
would you wonder what makes you worthy
or would you think this is easy, isn’t it?

would you wonder why you’re deserving
or simply know it’s yours because it is?
would you say you deserve more
or say that you didn’t even know it?

or would you turn it away because it’s not
something you worked for
and you don’t want anything
that doesn’t show the back breaking
you’ve done over the years?

or would you scoop it up
not realizing that no one has it that easy?
would you realize that people die
for a lot less than the more you get?

so what would you do?

when worth changes

exposure to something new
experiencing things you never thought you would
allowing yourself to trust the unknown
as you turn away from what you know

those are the things you remember
the memories you never want to let go of
perhaps shaping who you are the most
for who wants to turn down a chance to be amazed?

but what happens when those memories hurt,
when the thrill has combined with more?
when the smallest thing brings it all back
and you find your heart aching instead of flying?

that’s when you wonder if it it all was worth it…

People factor

They say it’s not where you are, but who you are with.
But sometimes where you are determines who those people may be.
There can be a difference in places that are the same.
The people make the difference–the people who make different impressions.

People are the formula that can make or break anything.
If you’re around people you trust, people you love, that’s where you want to be.
If that’s not the case, why bother?
To feel the spirits of those around you like a warm blanket rather than a suffocating itchy wool sweater…
There is a difference.

Who is it you choose to be around?

the courage

Standing tall is a sign,
a significant sign,
of strength and courage.

An even bigger sign
of strength is when a person is
courageous enough to recognize
that they can discover
the best kind of strength
by dropping to their knees.

Your Best Friend

Honesty is like your very best friend.
Honesty allows you to be your true self.
When honesty hurts you, it’s for your own good.
Honesty gives everything to you straight up, as is…
–offering the truth even when lies are preferable.
Honesty doesn’t need to ask for forgiveness.
Time or distance doesn’t matter to true honesty.
Honesty never hides something from you.
Honesty will never take you down a notch
–for its own personal gain.
Fairness is honesty’s middle name.
And lastly, everything that’s honest is genuine.
Now that’s your very best friend.

We

What someone wants is
hardly ever what they need.

What someone needs isn’t
always what they want.

The one thing every person
both wants and needs
is love.