27 Aug 2014

Fearless

How liberating to walk
Without any fear
With no need for assurance
That the way ahead is clear

How comforting to see
Infinite paths ahead
If ever one is blocked
I can choose another instead

How wonderful to be
Open and playful inside
To greet an uncertain tomorrow
With arms open wide

How amazing to feel
Life flowing through me
To see the falseness of my fears
And set myself free


22 Aug 2014

Choices in Love and Life

I used to think Love was an occurrence
It either 'happened' or did not
I used to think Love was an outcome
I was either 'in love' or was not

I am sensing now that love is a process
I either engage in it or don't
Love is an ever-available option
Sometimes I will choose it sometimes I won't

I used to think Life was an occurrence
Something that was 'happening' to me
I used to think that Life was an outcome
And 'good' or 'bad' it could be

I am sensing now that Life is a process
It is everything unfolding in me
Life is neutral, an uncoloured force
I can choose to colour it or let it flow free

21 Aug 2014

Money and Me


Money and Me

There was a time when Money was 'Taboo'
Desiring money was tantamount to sin
Money was the prince I could dream about
But whose affections I should not try to win

Money was a whimsical whacky witch
Whose plans and preferences I did not know
I saw her so often in some friends' houses
Yet I saw other places where she just did'nt go

When I saw naked beggars on the trains
And homeless children on the pavement
I thought of the money in my fathers pocket
And what that money could have meant

I grew up, I grew up, and I grew up more
Now I have much money I call my own
Money no longer feels so taboo
With me, my love for money has grown

Money is now a tantalising queen
I celebrate when she chooses to come
I use her presence to fulfil my needs
And appease my guilt by donating some

Yet I cannot connect with my money
I do not feel wealthy in spite of my wealth
There is a chasm between my money and me
As I look up my bank balance in stealth


A note related to this poem:

I have been thinking about why I feel so disconnected from my money (or my wealth) and I realised that one reason could be because of the way I invest it/store it. I typically put my money in banks and they invest it in stocks/bonds/whatever. However given the complexity of most investment products (and my limited ability to comprehend financial instruments) I have no simple way of understanding what 'work' my money has been put to. I wish there was some way of investing that will allow me to have clarity on what is happening with my money. Perhaps that might help me feel more connected with my money and see my money as an extension of my identity. I think that if I have not 'renounced' my money, then my money or my wealth is a part of me and I am responsible for what that wealth or money lands up 'doing' on the planet. Since I do not have this clarity (in my current way of managing my money), I have taken an escape route of just 'de-identifying' from my money or wealth.

I am curious to hear the extent to which others feel connected or disconnected to their wealth/money, and what their views on this are. Of course I will be delighted to hear suggestions of alternate mental models on 'money' as well........would love that!!!. In this poem I described my own mental model of money (contrasting it between when I was a child to what it is now).

15 Aug 2014

Declaration of Independence

My joy is quite independent
Of how you choose to treat me
Of what you choose to give me
And who you choose to be

Your words might hurt a little
Your actions might bruise a bit
But if I choose to let it go
I can untie myself from it

My peace is quite independent
Of the chaos that is around
Of the violence in the world
And the jarring traffic sound

The news might make me think
The noises might clutter my head
But I can also turn inwards
To access my stillness instead

My love is quite independent
Of how much you love me
Of how you show your love
And how my love you see

My love just comes from me
As my gift to me and you
Independent of who you are
Independent of what you do






11 Aug 2014

Relationships

My friends, you are wonderful
And I like being with you
I enjoy the conversations we have
And I cherish the activities we do

I like them because I come alive
When we spend time together
I am amazed how the stuff we do
Feeds into my inner weather

Sometimes you trigger love in me
And I can witness my heart bloom
Sometimes you trigger pain in me
And I experience loss and gloom



My parents, you are amazing
In how you continuously give
You demonstrate life's lessons to me
Through how you choose to live

I feel indebted to both of you
In several different ways
I feel your love edge me on
Through the stormiest of days

You keep me anchored in this world
When I tend to lose it all
You hold my hand gingerly
And lift me when I fall



My husband, you are the presence
That occupies my home and heart
Bringing colours of different shades
Into my life's unfolding art

You live so very close to me
And share every space of mine
That our emotions cross back and forth
An increasingly blurring line

You are the one who challenges me
To reach for peace and grace
You are the one who walks with me
Through the tribulations we face



My son, you are adorable
You are a blessing in my life
For you alone I don these labels
Of being a mother and wife

I fulfil these roles, however tasking
Because they come with you
It is through them I earn my right
To be involved with all you do

I hold you tenderly in my arms
Because you are a gift of love
A bouncy parcel of joy and bliss
From our miraculous creator above








2 Aug 2014

Fear of Exclusion?

Am I afraid of being excluded
Am I afraid of being left out
Am I afraid of not being asked
And left standing alone with a pout?

Am I afraid of not belonging
Am I afraid of not fitting in
Am I afraid of being so different
That the difference itself becomes a sin?

Am I afraid I will be alone
Am I afraid I will have no friend
Am I afraid that it will tear me down
In a way that I would not be able to mend?

Am I afraid that others will notice
Am I afraid that others will talk
Am I afraid that others will wonder
Why alone I'm choosing to walk?

Am I really afraid of being myself
Am I really afraid of what others see
Am I really afraid of just simply being
The one person who chooses to be with me






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