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This is such an inspiring post. Maybe this is a lesson we all need to take on board. Facing up to the past instead of running away takes courage. How courageous are we?
26 Wednesday Nov 2014
Posted Inspirational words
inTags
This is such an inspiring post. Maybe this is a lesson we all need to take on board. Facing up to the past instead of running away takes courage. How courageous are we?
26 Wednesday Nov 2014
25 Tuesday Nov 2014
Posted Philosophy, Poetry
inTags
"Ten poems to set you free", abundance, enlightenment, fate, field, Miguel de Unamuno, philosophy, poetry, Roger Housden, sadness, seed, spirit
On days when things weigh me down, I like to read this poem. I find it uplifting.
THROW YOURSELF LIKE SEED
by Miguel de Unamuno
Shake off this sadness, and recover your spirit; sluggish you will never see the wheel of fate that brushes your heel as it turns going by, the man who wants to live is the man in whom life is abundant.
Now you are only giving food to that final pain which is slowly winding you in the nets of death, but to live is to work, and the only thing which lasts is the work; start then, turn to the work.
Throw yourself like seed as you walk, and into your own field, don’t turn your face for that would be to turn it to death, and do not let the past weigh down your motion.
Leave what’s alive in the furrow, what’s dead in yourself, for life does not move in the same way as a group of clouds; from your work you will be able one day to gather yourself.
o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o
“Unamuno’s name is remembered in Spain, even today, as a symbol of courage and integrity. In saying that to live is to work, Unamuno even infers that a life without work is itself a kind of living death. But the work that is truly yours is the life that is truly yours; and if we have created something from our labors, it will speak for us long after we are gone.”¹
¹Roger Housden – “ten poems to set you free”
21 Friday Nov 2014
Posted Poetry
inTags
blogging, cruelty, damaged, healing, imagery, metaphor, pain, peace, poetry, tranquility, trauma
Aren’t we all damaged in some way or another? We all have baggage. Not one of us can go through life completely unscathed. Sometimes we do not know what to do with our pain: we hide it, we disguise it, we pretend it didn’t happen. But no matter how much we try to leave it behind it follows us, manifesting itself in anger, depression, withdrawal. Let’s care for our damaged brothers and sisters in whatever way we can by recognising their pain and offering love and understanding.
Damaged People
“Damaged people are dangerous”*
Are they really, I reflect
Can this be so, how do you know?
On this bright morning in a country far away
Such sorrow permeates my soul
Does that make me dangerous to know?
A morning of tears, remembered fears
Withering looks from the past
Cut the heart, tear me apart
Pain racked soul heaves my body
Causing me to tremble and shudder
Cruel words spoken with loathing
With no care for the innocent soul
Who listens carefully
And believes this to be truly
The way things could be
No! Damaged people are not dangerous
That simply is a fallacy
And one to be
Disregarded and buried
With past memories in a hurried
And impermeable coffin
Damaged people are to be loved
Taken to your bosom
Allowed to rest there
To be provided with a shady cove
A haven of peace and tranquility
Spoken to as if re-born
Gentle whispers in their ear
Reassuring them there’s no need to fear
That which hurt and broke them
Can no longer stoke the fires of pain
The embers glow now
Softly speaking of
The peace within
That poker no longer
Rakes the healing scars
It is powerless
My tortured soul’s at rest.
*Ouote from the film Damaged
© Marie Williams April 2009
07 Friday Nov 2014
Posted Poetry
inTags
abuse, compassion, forgiveness, hurt, letting go, moving on, pain, prison, release
Why is it so hard to let go of past hurts? Do you know, I’ve struggled with this and try as I may, I cannot come up with the answer. But I have tried hard to do this – saying “I forgive you”, and at the point of saying it, there is a feeling of release. But oh how easy it is to slip back into unforgiveness! It’s as if I am in a wrestling match, trying to overcome my opponent. I think I have him pinned down, but then he frees himself from my hold and grips me in another hold, where I struggle to free myself from that hold in my quest to become the victor. My conclusion is that it’s not possible to completely let go, it’s an on-going process and if you can get to a place in your heart where you feel the grip is loosening, then you will feel better. Perhaps for some of us it is more healing to say that “I am forgiving”, rather than “I forgive” realising that it is a process and a journey (for want of a better word) and that by looking forward to that place of forgiveness, each step taken, takes you closer to your goal. I found that trying to release my pain through this poem was a step on my way to forgiveness and letting go. I’m guessing we all have a poem to write …
Forgiving You, For Giving Me Hell
In this beautiful place
On this beautiful balcony
Overlooking the beautiful sea
I see
My father in a different light
I begin to view his plight
This morning it’s not about me
This morning it’s got to be
A gradual awareness of how blessed
He is, that God has made me see
How broken and wounded this man has been.
So now I reach out
And without a doubt
Release him, I free him
From the prison of my heart
I say: “get off your bed, you’re free to go”
I open wide the prison door
And stand aside
That he might slide past me
And fly outside
That he might soar
With wings of love
Into the sky above
So long I’ve held him prisoner
Watched him through the window of my soul
Refused to give him parole
Screamed that he in prison would die
But now I see that he must fly
His tormented soul begs my forgiveness
And so I release him
I can no longer his judge and jailer be
I’d like to say, with one fell swoop I set him free
But that would be a lie
My qualifications for this job did not come easily
The tears I shed, my wounds they bled
I flirted painfully with death
So you see, I earned this position
‘Twas not given me
I could not relinquish without a fight
A lifetime of immeasurable hurt
But now I choose to set him free
Go on, go quickly: I will not change my mind about this clemency
You don’t deserve it
You misfit
You don’t deserve it
You’re so unfit
But because I choose to let you go
To lose my sorrow and my woe
You’re a free man
Free to leave your prison cell
Free now to dwell
Wherever you wish.
Copyright Marie Williams July 2009
07 Friday Nov 2014
Posted Poetry
inTags
communication, control, harmony, healing, mathematics, peace, poetry, power
I’m sure we all have people in our lives who exert/have exerted a certain amount of power over our lives. When this happens we feel that we have no power. We are subject to their whims and manipulative tendencies. As children we are unable to fight back, to stand strong, to exert the power which is very much an intrinsic part of our nature. Power does not have to be a nasty word although it can seem this way when we are the victims of another person’s control. Those of us in powerful positions e.g parent and child, should use that power wisely. Do not use that power violently, spitefully, mockingly, cruelly. Take power over the power you have and be kind, thoughtful, compassionate, understanding and above all, realise that taking power and control is everyone’s right.
The Mathematics of Power
Power plus control equals pain
Power minus control equals harmony and strength
Power plus control plus pain equals fear
Power divided by two
Gives me and you
The chance to enhance
A balanced relationship
Control decides who takes the lion’s share
It becomes the snare
In which the other is trapped
I didn’t want that for you and me
But sadly that became my reality
You had the power; I supplied the fear
I held you dear; you did not!
Now we are so much older
I could not do the maths then
Children often struggle
Literally and physically
Now, I have the power
Power minus control
Equals harmony and strength!
Copyright Marie Williams – July 2009
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