CHAPTER 1
Being Present
We look up to see the sun. It is reflecting down on us as we begin our walk down the path. We feel refreshed in a way that we have never felt before. Finally we are taking our path. Many people in our lives told us not to, but what do we care? We are not doing this for them. We are doing this to find ourselves. No one else seems to have the answer as to why we were born or what our destiny truly is. So here is where the path begins: down a dusty, abandoned trail. We notice the trees and the branches that seem to be swaying from side to side. We begin to have one repeating thought: this doesn't seem so bad. It appears to be a breeze compared to what we believed would happen.
We thought we might be facing a task from the very beginning. Maybe we would be mugged. Maybe we would have forgotten something. Maybe we would have felt regret. Yet none of our worries have come true. We are surprisingly enjoying the beginning adventure. We are taking a look around and witnessing all of the small things we missed while living a life of busyness. The stress of knowing that there is a report that is due on Monday is no longer hanging over our head. Right now the only thought is to survive. Yet even that thought seems to be harmless. What is there to survive if no danger makes itself present? We continue to walk and begin to imagine all of the dreams we are able to make possible by the time we reach the end. All we have to do is stay on our path. We cannot become distracted.
We cannot be tempted to exert more energy than necessary. Yes, it might seem nice to go for a slight jog while traveling down this path. But our heart is repeating to us a simple phrase: do not rush this. We cannot afford to skimp on to the next section down the road. We do not have the option of becoming bored. Now is the time to gain focus. We must remind ourselves why we have chosen this path. It wasn't to be different. It wasn't to take time away from daily responsibilities. This is a mission. And like all missions, we must remember the goal: finding out who we are and what our purpose is in this life. That takes time.
This doesn't, however, mean that we cannot enjoy it. We have to take the time to behold what lies now in the present. We must focus on what we are seeing and not what might come down the road. We must look from side to side and take note of our senses. We can feel the cool breeze over our skin. We can smell the dustiness of chalked-up gravel beneath our feet. We must hear all the sounds: from a bird flying by to the scuffle of a squirrel hurrying up the tree. We know that right now the most important thing is to be in the present. We have already dealt with the confusion that comes with thinking ten steps ahead and taking thirty steps back.
Before the path we used to constantly think about what we would have to do the next day once we were off work. I have to go to the gym. I have to pick up groceries. I have to send in the necessary forms so I do not get fired. The stress of it all leaves us frenzied, completing task after meaningless task. What becomes urgent is no longer important. We are busy because we don't know what else to be. And when we do find the free time to sit down and relax, we start to fill our minds with new thoughts-or so we think. We feel that our mind should always be put to use-until we fall asleep-so we begin to think on all of the choices we made in the past. Yet they are not productive thoughts. They are, in fact, regrets.
I should've asked Suzie to prom. I should have known better than to drive that night. I should've told [insert relatives, friends, spouse] how much I loved them before I lost them forever. Regret after regret starts to pile up. We start to realize something: we feel no different relaxing than we do when we are completing our tasks. We are constantly doing or thinking and never relaxing or meditating. We are constantly in motion and know no way to stop. When will we stop? That question repeats over everything else. When will the time come where we can take a deep breath and exhale in relief? There is too much to do. We know all of the practices and stratagems to relax. But we cannot fall asleep now. We have to stay alert! And so the cycle continues. But on the path we are free from the many distractions of life.
We are on our own path. So while we travel we must continue to be in the present. We must know that this chance is not by accident, it is practiced. It is learned and honed as a skill. Our heart tells us to take notes, for it knows that this will serve us in the future. We must take hold of our five senses: hearing, touch, sight, smell, and taste. Perhaps we will happen across a field of berries-or any other food source-and take hold of the taste. We might hear the peaceful sounds of nature and let it envelop our soul. We might see how the wind bends the branch on a tree. We may smell the purity of wildlife as we take in our surroundings. We must remember to always remain in the present.
Time Knows
Time knows the abounding obstacles
We all must face.
It disgraces none and discerns the sum
Of a healthy spirit.
We feel its presence with an essence of hope.
Yet how are we to cope with the unknown?
As we have grown to own up to our past actions,
We seek yet a new satisfaction;
One that is not to take the place
Of our reaction to a lesser fate.
We debate and relegate our duties
In a soothing manner.
"Time will wait,"
We say in digression.
But time knows no such selection.
It makes a collection of all
That have reflected on what it stands to show;
We hear it grow beneath our feet.
We retreat when it races and face it,
Only when we have no other option.
But time is our friend.
It looks to mend the broken heart
And wishes to help us stand apart
From the wicked temptations of true procrastination.
Time is a guide.
It wants to provide an equal divide
Between the present you and the old fool
Who knows not what he wants.
Time is blunt.
It pulls no punches when there is a hunch
Of a resource that can force us into action.
Time reveals to us the satisfaction
That we desire to see.
It can only plea with those
Who achieve inner peace.
Time repulses a disorganized thief.
It dares not show the fatal blow
That it soon will deliver;
Risking no riddles and playing the little part
Of a larger role.
Time sets its own goals.
Who are we to know of its arrangements?
It proves to be bold in doing what it is told,
But only when what it is told comes to light.
Time helps us fight.
It knows every battle
That could rattle our minds.
It finds no relation to the benevolent regulations
Of our hour.
Time will devour our enemies.
It sees through the thickness
Of any elicit salutation;
It proves that all creation has meaning.
Time is never deceiving.
Only those who choose to go their own way
Do miss the day when it can alleviate our pain.
Time knows our name.
We may see fame,
Or we may not,
But time has bought an equal share
In the investment of you.
Time holds all things to be true.
It has never been confused.
It pursues a higher calling
When we come crawling to its feet.
Time,
However,
Cannot plant your seed.
It can only urge that we do not splurge
On material things.
Rather,
We must be who we were always meant to be.
Time sees all.
It will not let us fall if we stall our ambitions.
There is too much resistance coming from it
Than the fit that we choose to throw.
I can honestly say,
That above it all,
Time will always know.
Temperamental Shifts
There is a temperamental shift taking place.
The disgrace never lasts
Past a certain date.
The innate feelings we are sensing are commencing
At a faster pace.
We can now erase our guilt.
We have built on a foundation
For the creation of better things.
But we did not bring one thing to the table.
It enables us to trust that somehow
A shift can take place.
We thought for a second;
We reckoned
That nothing could change.
We rearranged this idea
Because we did not know that in order to grow,
We must sow a new seed.
Our greed has to be put to the side.
In this way our guide is pure
And secure in the travels we will be making.
Forsaking the mistakes,
We can take a new path.
One with no wrath or hurt.
And now,
The curt for the curtains can be shut.
But we need not forget the lessons.
All of this comes
From the thrift of a new
Temperamental shift.
Present Time
It is some type of timing.
Instead of rewinding the clocks,
My thoughts
Still remain in this present time.
Not for the kindest nature
Have I favored this mindset.
Not focused on the past,
My last thought remains
In this present time.
No planning for the future
Gives room for the newest dream.
Simply scheming along with what is gone,
At this present time.
Some kind of way,
Each day,
Has to bring increase.
No other tease can please my spirit,
Other than knowing I am growing every hour.
Devoured is the man who stands still,
Never moving forward,
Leading toward a miserable life.
Yet my mindset
Is in this present time.
No rhyme can make me
Fake the only thing
That matters.
So while your mind scatters,
My mind will remain
In this present time.
Being Great
What is the difference between day and night?
Where do we even begin to take flight?
When do we fight?
It may be tomorrow,
If we borrow the sorrows
That cannot seem to be found.
Not to confound the idea
That we are the answer.
"What is the plan, sir?"
It is simple humor,
For the rumors
Heard worldwide.
Gliding to the side,
Pride will only melt.
It is time to act on another action.
Reach for new satisfaction.
Become the new caption.
We live
Not to relate,
But to be great.
Envy
Tempers flare when the glare of the world
Is upon us.
We tend to be something mean
In the eyes of those who despise us.
Some cause a fuss over the smallest things.
It could be when we simply achieve a dream.
They seem to scheme to have it destroyed.
You could have the break
That seems to make them hate you more.
It bores the ones
Who have adjusted to that busted mindset.
But it is hard to regard everyone as fair,
Especially when they are not letting you play.
But we are all in this game.
No person has to lose,
To those who choose to bring others down.
Around goes the victor,
Picked for the task.
It does not matter if you are last.
The torch finds its way to every human being.
No running toward the end
Makes you fend off the torches' choice.
Rejoice in the matter,
Whereas the clatter in the back,
Will never cause your success to lack.
Pay the fare,
Because the glare of this world can cause
Tempers to flare.
A Concealing Soul
I receive what I believe is a helping hand.
Reprimand,
Or reprimanding me,
From the history of my wrongs.
Along the way,
A song did play in my ear.
It says,
"Stay clear of any fear,
For near you now
Is a new era."
Rare are these moments for me.
I do decree it is a new day.
It shows a glow
On what was considered a dim future.
The time in this day does sway in the right direction.
Perfection is no longer mandatory.
Glory is within,
And only then do we see
Perfectly
Who we are.
Afar we do glance
At the passed-up chance
For success.
Little did I know that we all grow,
From what we see now.
Somehow we predict what comes next.
Not in pretext,
Though the sequence in our thoughts
Brings a pattern for results.
We cultivate the simple state
In which we remain.
Refrain from the frame,
In which others have placed you.
See through what is not true
About you.
Only then will you find
What your mind and soul conceal.
Choice Timing
The timing does not have to be right.
Each fight that you face
Is only erased by your will.
You can stand still
Or you can go into battle.
Either way,
Only you can rattle the cages,
But only when you choose to.
Do not be confused
On whether you can or cannot win.
There is power within you:
Enough to devour any wrong thing.
Bring out this better you
Because you know it is true.
Defend your soul so that you may know,
And choose
Your own fight.
Satisfied
What we want is satisfaction.
It is not a subtraction from our being
But we must be seeing a goal.
There is something at the end of the road,
Letting us know
That we have finally reached the end.
We may recommend different ways
To handle each day,
But who is to say we want the same thing?
What brings me to my knees is not greed,
Nor is it the seed of money.
But personally,
The satisfaction
That comes with increase.
Being better today,
Compared to who I was yesterday
Means everything.
Hopefully it does for you too.
Pursue what is true,
And find what makes your mind
Satisfied.
CHAPTER 2
The Power of Perspective
We sense the darkness slowly approaching. It is turning from day to night. We were always told not to be afraid of the dark. There are no monsters in the closet. There is nothing under your bed. There is nothing to be afraid of Yet we still sense the fear. We know that as quickly as it turns night it will as quickly turn back to day. But the night frightens us. We are following down the path that we have chosen, and we cannot see two feet in front of our face. Our path doesn't seem as cheery and inviting. We are searching for the light wherever light may hide. But we cannot seem to find it.
We use our senses to guide us. We feel around to make sure we haven't gotten away from the path itself. And as much as we thought this would help, we still continue to believe that we may be lost. We slow down. What is that? Where is that sound coming from? What is forming there in the distance? Our imagination takes flight. Every wrong thing we believe can happen builds in us a rising panic. Have I gone too far? Was this a good idea? Where am I going? The darkness has a hold on us, but our heart will not let us stop. We feel as if we should take a break, continue down the path tomorrow. We want to set up shop and wait for the sweet arrival of the morning dew. But our heart tells us we must go on. This feeling seems awfully familiar to us.
Back when we were not on the path we felt the darkness while coming home late. The drive home from work was dark. The drive back to a friends house was dark. The drive to pick up late-night groceries was dark. We have experienced this darkness before. Yet when we were stumbling through this darkness there was always a person on the other side. We were arriving at a place where we knew someone would be greeting us. The comfort coming from the succession of meeting a friendly face plays in our mind. I only have a few more blocks to go. I only have a few more groceries to pick up. I only have a few more tasks to complete. This is not so for the path.
