Archive | October 2014

The journey

Oct28

The road of life is not a smooth ascent
Straight up the mountain
Sometimes we travel to the right or to the left
But let’s not forget that we are still moving forward
And gaining wisdom along the way

When making decisions on this journey
Perhaps it’s not a matter of making the correct choice
It’s a matter of choosing to the best of our ability
And moving forward
The results will guide our future steps

There is always time to get to where we want to get
Our life is not a race where detours
Can cost us ultimate victory
Life is a meandering road
With surprises, dead ends and detours
All of which are part of the process of moving forward

And perhaps the emphasis should be
On moving forward
Because at any destination we reach
Another journey begins

Perhaps the reason why we are on this road
Is not to reach certain destinations
As fast as possible
But to learn our lessons along the way
And to help others on their way

And when the destination is not the most
Important thing on our mind
We may feel less stressed
Less rushed
Less judged
And more joyful
on our way!

Lida Berghuis
October 28th, 2014

Confessions of an extrovert!

Oct18

I’m an extrovert
That I know for sure!
For me, being in someone’s company
And conversation go hand in hand
Sitting side by side in silence is almost
Impolite in my book!
It means I don’t want to talk to you
Which means I don’t like you or
I’m angry with you!

But an introvert is OK with silence
Ok with thinking things through when in someone’s company
Needs to day dream more than needs to talk
Has to have a really good reason to talk!

When an introvert is upset
They tend to not want to share what is bothering them
Which makes me confused since I don’t know how to help
And plus, why don’t they want to share what’s going on?
Wouldn’t that make them feel better?
I feel shut out!

I’ve come to learn that
An introvert needs lots of space
Lots of alone time
And problem solving is not a group activity for them
It can be done in solitude most of the time!

And now the hamster ball!
An introvert, I’ve come to know
Has a personal space that can’t be breached
They tend to live in a hamster ball
Be careful when you approach them
Don’t go sit next to them
Let them come sit next to you when it’s time

An introvert finds big social groups draining
They can only take so much company
Then the need to go back to a quiet, comfortable, known place
To recharge!

That’s really hard to understand for me
Because I get energy from being with people
I love small groups, big groups, groups of any kind
I come alive in the company of people
When surrounded by people
I’m in my element
I am where I belong!

I do need down time
Time for me and my thoughts
But an hour or two a day will do
It need not be very long

Understanding an introvert
Is like understanding someone from another culture
Misunderstandings can happen
Flexibility is needed
As well as an open mind and open heart!
But we are all people in the end
There is nothing a little communication
Some understanding
And genuine love cannot resolve!

Lida Berghuis
October 18th, 2014

Freedom

Oct15

“Freedom is not being afraid of anything that’s to come”*
And where does this freedom come from?
Perhaps it comes from battles lost and won
From knowing that any trial can be overcome
That what needs to change is us
Not the situation confronting us!

Each situation has something to teach
Each trial comes with some gifts
Darkness will lead to light
There are lessons in each fall!

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

*Herbie Hancock

New territory!

Oct14

When we are in new territory we make ‘mistakes’
But they are not really mistakes
They are attempts at discovery
The first attempt often does not give result
That one succeeds who doesn’t give up!

Einstein said, “I’m like others, but I stayed
with the problem longer”
And what is it that makes us stay and not give up

Part of it is the passion we have for something
The passion that makes us forge ahead despite disappointments
Part of it is being stubborn and persistent
Not allowing one failure to bring us to a halt
Part of it is the conviction that results will come
Part of it is realising that anything worth achieving
Takes effort and time!

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

The art of life…

Oct13

The art of life…
The hardest art to master
The lessons start when we are young
And never end like any other art!

This art’s techniques are endless
Kindness, compassion, love, honesty
Generosity, curiosity, persistence and so on
These techniques we can learn early on
But to perfect them, one needs time

There are many teachers we come across
Each teaches us something new and exciting
But mastery comes only with practice
And that part is up to us!

There may be times we wish to start a piece
We are creating over again
Times when we look at an older piece
And wonder, ‘where was my head’
Some pieces take a very long time
Some pieces feel inspired and need no effort at all!

But if we persevere
If we work hard
We can create such beauty with this art!
And old pieces may not look perfect
But they were part of the process
And we never start perfect!

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

Inspired by a talk by Herbie Hancock
On creativity and art

Connection!

Oct12

We are super-connected
Yet, so disconnected at times
We have the technology
But to transform the world we live in
We need to add heart!
Because when hearts connect
There’’s nothing that can’’t be done!

We have the World Wide Web and the Cloud
We are connected to each other 24 hours a day
But the connection that we need
To change the world we live in
Is super low-tech!

This connection can be made with a smile
A shared moment of joy
It can be made with an eye contact
That acknowledges the other person

This connection is made by feeling the pain of someone who is in distress
Someone who needs a helping hand
And listening ear

For this connection, all one needs is love
A sense of belonging to the whole and
Being responsible for the welfare of all

So, as we get better connected technologically each day
Let’s not forget this most important connection

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

Inspired by:
Reimaging the world From scarcity to prosperity
Eliane Ubalijoro | TEDxConcordia

It’s in my blood!

Oct9

Traveling is in my blood!
Living in different countries is in my blood!
Movement is in my blood!
Restlessness is in my blood!

Curiosity is in my blood!
A thirst for the knowledge of the other is in my blood!
More of the same does not interest me!
Tradition, I respect
But it can’t chain me

When I travel
I marvel at the different colors that I see
The different ways of doing things
And yet I know that deep down where it counts
We are all the same
With the same hopes and aspirations
With the same smiles and tears
With the same challenges!

So, yes, I crave diveristy
But I know that this diversity
Is like the beautiful costumes that we wear
Underneath, our reality is the same

Lida Berghuis
October 9th, 2014

My laughter does not age!

Oct6

 

img_4219

Are you fearful of getting older?

Not if I’m learning my lessons as I go
Not if I’m contributing to other people’s joy
Not if I’m doing something useful!

Are you fearful of getting older?
Not if I can look at the world with wiser eyes
A more compassionate heart
A twinkle in my eyes

Are you afraid of getting older?
No, since my spirit does not age
My laughter does not get old
My smile is as young as ever!

Yes, my body may not heal as fast as before
But perhaps my spirit can heal faster
There are wrinkles here and there
But why look down on wrinkles
They are the sign of a life well-lived!

So, let’s not fear aging
Let’s celebrate a life well-lived!

Lida Berghuis
October 6th, 2014

Judgemental!

Oct5

This is good, this is bad!
So goes the thinking in my head sometimes
I’m too late, It took too long
I was so much more productive yesterday
That must mean yesterday was good
And today is not!

I’ve noticed I judge too much!
Not only others
I judge myself too much!
I’m tired, and that must be bad!
I have to much to do, that can’t be good!
I’m bored, and that surely is bad!
Actually that hasn’t happened in a while!

My point is
I judge the situation too much
It is what is
It’s neither good, nor bad!
It’s just the state of affairs as they are
And this state is bound to change
That’s how things are in this life!

So, in the meantime
Why be so judgemental?
It is what it is on this day
And it will surely change in the days to come!

Less judgement means less stress
Fewer negative thoughts
Less worry
And much more love
For who I am now and
For what is right now!

Lida Berghuis
October 4th, 2014