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Reflections on wealth, class and looks

Nov12

Reflections on wealth, looks and class

How far can wealth, looks and class take you?

Wealth is good but it’s here today and not the next
Plus wealth brings its own problems
There is always someone who is more wealthy than you
One can never say one has enough wealth
So, if that’s what we’re after, we’ll never get there

Wealth also puts you in a bubble of sorts
Everyone around you is the same
You’ll end up living in a world that’s not real
You can easily lose touch with the average man
And possibly your humanity

Good looks is Ok
But by now we know
It’s as impermanent as water colour
And as deceiving as fool’s gold!

Plus if what’s on the outside
Is not reflected inside
It’s no use
Good looks does not comfort you
Support you
Or encourage you
A kind heart is what does that
And that definitely does not depend on good looks

Class?
What is that?
How do we decide if someone has class?
For me the classiest things are humility
Generosity and empathy
This is what I would be looking for
The outward stuff tends to take the fun out of life
One needs to take oneself so seriously

Good looks are good only
If accompanied by a good heart
Wealth is good
If we use it the right way
If it doesn’t go to our head
If it doesn’t blind us to the rest of the world
If it’s earned honestly and with hard work

Class is good
If one’s actions are classy
Not one’s appearance only
No one wants a classy friend
With a cold heart

By themselves wealth, class and looks
Don’t amount to much
They are empty shells that will disappoint
In the long run

On the other hand
Kindness, generosity, humility and such
Add to wealth that can’t be taken away
Beauty that will never fade
And a classiness that is real!

Lida Berghuis
November 11th, 2015

See you in the clouds

Nov8

It’s a conference in the clouds
Because how else could we talk
She’s in Switzerland, he’s in Shiraz
He’s in Denmark, she’s in Australia
It must be that we meet in the clouds
There is no other explanation
None that I found

It’s someone’s morning
Someone’s noon
Someone’s getting ready to sleep
Someone’s going to work

From these different times and places
We gather where there is no time and place
And all that matters is our thoughts

We communicate and laugh out-loud
How amazing , we are no longer earth-bound
Because we can meet in the clouds…

November 8th, 2015

Why bother

Nov6

Lids are over-rated
That’s what Natasha thinks anyway
Why put the lid back on the toothpaste tube
If a few hours later you have to take it off?
Why put the lid back on the eye makeup remover
Pretty soon you’ll be using is again
Luckily somethings like Shampoo bottles
Come with their lids attached to them
Otherwise there would be lids everywhere

I’ve concluded that
Natasha and lids don’t get along
She avoids them and they avoid her too!
I’m sure she’s sometimes surprised
When she sees the lid back on something
That belongs to her
I’m sure she thinks, who did that and why?

The problem is that she does the same thing
With the jar of jam!
And as for putting it back in the fridge
She must think why bother with that
Someone will need it soon enough…

November 6th, 2015

encouragement

Nov5

When someone encourages me
I feel like a flower in the sun
I want to stretch my petals
As much as I can

When someone encourages me
My heart smiles
My eyes sparkle
I feel exuberant!

When someone encourages me
The world seems like a kinder place
I feel surrounded by love and care

When someone encourages me
I want to say thank you, my friend
For brightening my day

November 5th, 2015

takes the cake

Nov4

When things you thought would never come to pass, do!
When people you thought you would never hear from again
Reappear in your life
When friendships that started years ago can continue to grow
When I have a connection to my homeland I never thought I would

It becomes clear to me again that life
Is full of surprises, difficult and joyous
That things can change in an instant
For better or worse
That one never knows what lies ahead
That technology is bringing the world together
In amazing ways

So thrilled to be in touch with my classmates
So proud to know what they have achieved
So happy that we can still be silly and laugh
So wonderful that we don’t take ourselves too seriously

Life is full of unexpected turns
And this connection certainly takes the cake!

Lida Berghuis
November 4th, 2015

Have I grown up?

Nov2

IMG_7096

Have I grown up?
It depends…

When I joke and giggle with my kids
Talk about absurd things and
Sing songs badly
I feel just like a kid!

When I laugh at silly jokes
And tears start rolling down my cheeks
When I play Sherades or other games
I feel just like a kid

When I cry because of a harsh remark
Can’t find words to respond
Feel insecure as can be
I feel just like a kid

When I learn something new
Discover a poet I like to read
And time passes without me noticing
I feel just like a kid!

Of course I have the responsibilities
of a grown-up
Working, taking care of bills
Watching over my children
And these kinds of things

Of course, I’ve learned a thing or two
Experienced hardship
And can talk about my life lessons
So, I’m not a kid

But bing an adult would be so boring
If from time to time I could not be like a kid!

Lida Berghuis
November 2nd, 2015

Not too late

Oct31

It’s never too late…

It’s never too late
To live the life we want to

When we’re young, we make decisions because
we feel we’re expected to do certain things
We don’t do other things because it goes against
the conventions of our time

When the tree is young
It can sway in the wind of do’s and don’t
As it becomes stronger
It can stand firm and tall

In mid-life, with the experience of youth
We know better who we are
What we want
What we need
What we can’t live without

This is the time to live the life we are meant to live
Do what brings us joy
Live authentically

It’s never too late…
No, the time’s just right!

Lida Berghuis
October 30th, 2015

To Whatsapp or not to Whatsapp….u

Oct30

They tell me I spend too much time on Whatsapp
I’m staring at my phone too much
When we’re talking I should put my phone away
And look them straight in the eye!

I agree with complain number three
Eye contact is important when we talk
But what I do when I want to wind down
Is my business
For me to decide

If I wasn’t on Whatsapp I’d probably be on Facebook
If I wasn’t on Facebook, I may be watching TV or listening to news

We all need down time and what better way
To spend it with friends, old and new

Why not learn about someone else’s point of view?
Why not reconnect with one’s home town?

So maybe I’m on Whatsapp too much
But it’s my down time and I’ll do what I want!

Lida Berghuis
October 30th, 2015

long live diverstiy

Oct29

Don’t have to convince you if you don’t agree
Don’t have to move you if you don’t want to be moved

I’m happy to be who I am, you’re happy to be who you are

Don’t need to defend my point of view
Don’t have to be right all the time
No need for everyone to agree always
Long live diversity of opinion and thought

To be in the moment

Oct27

What does being in the moment mean?
I think it means being happy and content at the time
Not thinking how wonderful things would be if…
Or how awful it was yesterday when…

It means finding beauty in everything
Each step of the way
Not rushing to get to the next sign post

It means appreciating the mundane repetitive
Things we do each day
Because the fact that we can do them is a blessing

It means giving our attention to the task at hand
Less multitasking

Being in the moment involves finding things
To be thankful for no matter
What we are doing and how we feel

Realizing that even the unpleasant things of life
Are part of the puzzle
That they will pass
And if we learn something in the process
That is their gift to us

Lida Berghuis
October 26th, 2015