Working for something
You believe in
Is being your own
Source
Of light.

I am grateful
When another person
Makes my anger blaze.
It is a chance
To confront
Parts of myself
That like to remain hidden.
The anger brings
Them out of hiding
So I can get to know them
Give them a hug
And accept them.

People have blind spots
Where their self-doubt resides.
They avoid these parts of themselves
Creating little caves,
Where scavengers
Can hide out.
I’m working on shining light
Into all my caves.
Forcing all the wisps of smoke
Into the sunshine.

Be gentle when you discover
Another’s blind spot
And don’t you dare
Become one of their scavengers.

When we met
I was shocked
To see the most familiar light
Shining
Through you.
When you’re in a meeting
With me
I have to speak up.
My thoughts
Are no longer my own
To ignore.
Whatever enters my head
Is also yours
And remaining quiet
Discredits you too.

Happiness
Is feeling
Free everyday.

Creating a life
Where you never feel
Trapped.

Where you make time
To let
The wings hidden
Behind your shoulder blades
Out for long
Stretches.

Where you make space
To breathe in peace
And breathe out love.

Don’t waste your time
Trying to fight off
Bad thoughts
From clouding
Your mind

Let the rains
Roll in
Accept them
As part of
The storm that is you

Spend your time
Instead
Thinking about what
You can make grow
With all this water

When a beat
Takes control
Of my body
My soul is free
To soar

Loose constraints
Trying to hold back
This animal
Who thinks
It is
Destined for fame
And prizes.

Without fail
The beast crouches
Ready to leap into flight
At the slightest hint
Of attention.

The constraints
Never tight enough
To stop it
From crashing
Hard back to earth
When the prize
Was earned
By someone else.

The constant
Highs and lows
That come from
Relying on
Others’ praise,
Are like
Heart attacks
Between bouts of anxiety.
Peace only comes
When she realizes
Her opinion
Of herself
Is all that matters.

I get heartburn
From emotions
That tangle
Around my heart
If I don’t
Comb them out
Quickly.

I pull out one
String
From the knot
Roll it between my fingers
Discover where
It came from.
Some strands are easy to confront
But others
Are rooted
All the way down
My darkest crevices.

Examining each shred
Until my chest is clean
Is the most soothing
Medicine
For this heart.