A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 184

Day 184: “Growing Up”

I remember

When the days were simpler

When my hands were smaller

When my eyes were bigger

I remember

When my heart beat faster

When the stars shone brighter

When the world fit into my small town

When I carried more

Felt less

When my fluttering heart couldn’t take much more

When my shoulders slumped

And my head fell

When I didn’t know what I’m worth

When I smiled more

When I pushed myself aside

for the greater good

for the greater god

Now

Shoulders back

My head sits higher

I feel

And only carry what I need

I put stuff down

Run carefree

I breathe

I’ve learned to jump

And fly

And listen to me

I feel my power

Know within

What a joy it is

to grow up

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 183

Day 183: “New Leaf”

Staring out the window

On a long ride

Wondering about the future

Wondering when it’s time

Tired

Beaten down

When is it time

To get out of town

To drive away

Start another

Start again

Leave it all behind

Riding steady

Build the life I want

Brick by brick

Open up

Turn the page

Write a new chapter

Begin again

I guess I don’t have to wait

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 182

Day 182: “Thinker”

Sometimes you have to look at it from the outside

Ask for help

Travel around the edges of the problem

Searching for a crack,

A crevice,

You can sneak through

Sometimes consulting someone else

Is enough to spot the space

Where you can shimmy in

And make a change

And sometimes

It’s even easier than you thought

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 181

Day 181: “Creative Process”

I feel it

Tingling

I have an idea

I’ll sit with it

I’ll think

I’ll think

And I’ll think

And I’ll think

Then I might write something down

The remnants

The outskirts

Of the idea

Nothing fully developed

Not committing

Not wedded to anything

Not far enough to know if it sucks

Or if it’s brilliant

I’ll live in that space

The in-between

Just starting to form the ball

Kneading it

And kneading it

Until it’s overworked

Cracked and dry

Then I’ll stop thinking

Move on

Never even turning the oven on

Until another idea wriggles itself free

And into my line of sight

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 180

Day 180: “Harness the Moon”

Harness the moon

Sit with its brilliance, depth, beauty

Admire the sky

Lighting up the deep blue

Memorize the craters

The bright spots too

Harness the moon

Its quiet power

The way it glows

Ebbs and flows

Sit under the stars

Melt in the embers

Close your eyes

And absorb the lunar splendor

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 178

Day 178: “Lighting Up”

I aspire to light up

Often

To be so excited about what I’m talking about

That it’s visible to everyone in the room

To be unapologetic

Elated

At the thought of something I love

However minuscule it might seem to others

It lifts up my cells

Brightens my smile

Helps me stand taller

Be louder

Shining

You’ve seen it

You’ve felt it

When someone is so passionate

Happy

When you’re so passionate

Happy

Let’s devote ourselves to the shine

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 176

Day 176: “Lessons From Mom”

How to be open

Welcoming

Giving

Kind

Smart

Empathetic

Caring

How to smile

Laugh

Give great hugs

Say ‘I love you’

How to be brave

Confident

Strong

Proud

How to make friends

Smile at strangers

Talk to people

How to release

Feel

Surrender

How to be there

For others

For myself

How to grow

Learn

Evolve

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 175

Day 175: “You Can Set You Free”

Knowing yourself

Gives you freedom

If you truly know who you are

What makes you happy

Where you feel most aligned

Then judgment means nothing

You don’t believe the negativity

Because it simply isn’t true

To you

You don’t take on anything that dims you

You don’t accept the shame others try to give you

It’s not easy though

But spending time with yourself

Paying attention to what makes you feel incredible

Alive

Centered

That’s the makings of an authentic you

You want to be unapologetically yourself

You want to be unashamed

Then get to know yourself

And do what makes you happy

Watch what holds you back fall away

And rise as the most you you there is