The 100th time…

Aug19

Why do I sometimes not listen to my body
And slow down?
Maybe it’s because I’m too stubborn
Too darn stubborn for my own good!

Maybe it’s because slowing down doesn’t seem fun
And I think I want to be ‘productive’!

Maybe it’s because I don’t realise that
The crash is around the corner!

Maybe it’s because slowing down is hard!

Maybe going fast is addictive
Maybe slowing down seems boring
Maybe I’m impatient
Maybe I have trouble sitting still
Maybe my mind goes into over-drive
Maybe … all of the above!

But maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself
Change takes time
And as long as I’m striving, it’s all fine

Maybe I will eventually learn to slow down…
Maybe the hundredth time is the charm!

Lida Berghuis
August 18th, 2014

The slow lane…

Aug18

If you can go 70 miles an hour all the time
Please do!
Don’t mind me in the slow lane!

I’ve gotten to know myself
I’m a sprinter
For a while I can enjoy the fast lane
And then I need to take a break

I used to push myself too much a lot of the time
Not listen to the “I’m tired” signals!
Compare myself to others all the time
Crash and burn after a while

And truth be told
Sometimes, I still do!

But I try to pace myself
No, I won’t be everywhere all the time
I need time to reflect as well
I need time to write and process my thoughts

So, it will be the slow lane sometimes
The no-rush lane
The smell-the-roses lane
The relax and play lane

So my mind and body can recuperate
And get ready for the fast lane!

Lida Berghuis
August 9th, 2014
Green Acre

Trouble maker!

Aug17

I thought I was done with breaking the rules
Questioning the norms
Walking down the unbeaten path

I thought those times were over
And I had settled down
Mellowed out

But my nature has not changed
I will never be one to conform!
I won’t be the one who draws within the lines
Follows instructions
Lives the ordinary life!

There are consequences to being different, of course
People will talk
Heads will turn
Whispers can be heard

One can’t stand out and not be noticed
One can’t be loud and not attract attention
One can’t be outside the box and in the box at once!

Here I go again
Marching to the beat of my own drum
Challenging traditional thought
Doing what has not been done!

And where would the fun be
In being ordinary
Doing what is expected
Filling the mould

Change comes from daring to be different
Trying something new
And it seems that’s the path I’ve chosen to live
With the consequences that follow!

Lida Berghuis
August 9th, 2014
Green Acre

Road trip

Aug16

The journey of life is not a smooth road trip
Detours seem to sneak up on us everywhere
Bumps appear all along the way
Sometimes all our energy goes into climbing a hill
That does not seem to end
Sometimes we find ourselves careening down a hill
At breakneck speed

Perhaps one of the hardest things in life
Is to find balance
To know when to slow down
When to keep going despite bad weather
And how long to drive before coming to a stop

Finding balance requires getting to know oneself
One’s limits
One’s strengths
One’s gifts

It requires audacity to be different
To stand out
It requires the courage of one’s convictions
When others think we are wrong
It requires wisdom that comes
From facing the challenges of life

Finding balance is a life-long quest
And like many other things in life
It’s about the journey and not the destination

Lida Berghuis
August 11th, 2014
Green Acre

Blessed!

Aug5

My spontaneity
His planning ability

My fiery nature
His cool water ways

My excitement and laughter
His calm and composure

My ability to get lost
His ability to know the way

His wit and charm
My laughter and delight

His vision of the future
My admiration

His ability to grow and transform
My amazement and wonder

His genuine nature
My happiness

My strengths, his strength
Complement each other

My half, his half
Make a whole

My love, his love
Create magic!
The impossible becomes possible
The closed door opens

My suffering, his suffering
Intertwined
His patience
Like none other I have seen

Blessed to have found
His love
Blessed to serve with him!

Lida Berghuis
August 4th, 2014

Under the water of trials…

Aug2

Deep under water
Pushed down by the weight of life
A heavy load that does not allow me to emerge
From the watery grave that surrounds me

Should I give in?
Should I fight?
Do I want to live, or die?

Giving up is easy
Not much effort is required
But fighting takes courage, strength and
The will to go on

Surrounded by water
Pressed down by the weight of the world
At the juncture of
Giving up or marching on…

Once again,
I choose to fight
To laugh in the face of trials
I choose to go on…
But why?

Because I’m not one to choose the easy path
Anyone can do that
I accept the challenge
I will fight!

So, I gather all my might
Say a silent prayer
And push up!

And amazingly
The weight lifts
I emerge from water
I can breathe again
I’m alive!

I’m not alive because I fear death
I’m alive because death will come in its own good time
I need not spur it on

In a world full of trials
My mission is to march on
Giving up is not an option
Suffering has its reasons
I’m here for a reason
And to fulfil that
I will stay around…

Lida Berghuis
July 31st, 2014
Inspired by Inception sound track
and a scene in The Signature of All Things

The climb…

Jul31

This world is like a mountain we have to climb
Challenges are there
Our strength and perseverance is tested
But each height we reach is breathtaking

What can make this climb more manageable?
The support of friends
Someone to cheer us on
To walk along side us
A shoulder to cry on when things get tough
A friend to lean on when our strength wanes

And sometimes we’re the one who does the cheering up
The one who others can lean on
The strong one, for the moment…

Lida Berghuis
July 26th, 2014
Montreal Youth Conference

Slowing down to go farther…

Jul29

Busy times…
Trying to keep my cool
Even when there are a hundred things
On my to-do list
I won’t forget that somewhere on the list
Close to the top
Is taking care of myself
And doing something that recharges my batteries
Brings me joy
Centres me!

Sometimes we think if we run faster
We will get farther
But in reality
To go farther, we need to slow down
This slowing down
Reflecting sometimes
Relaxing and recuperating sometimes
Prevents accidents
Prevents injuries
And in the long run
We will cover a greater distance
More happily!

July 22nd, 2014

Mysteries of life…

Jul20

How is it that things we imagine have the worst timing in our lives
Become the blessings we never expected?

How is it that things we don’t plan
End up having the best outcomes?

How is it that we can be so mistaken?

Perhaps these things come our way to teach us humility
Humility of acceptance
Trust in the Universe
Contentment under all conditions!

Our ego fights a battle to death
And if we’re lucky
It’s the ego that loses!

Mysteries of life abound!
Learning is life-long
Humility is learned one trial at a time…

Lida Berghuis
July 20th, 2014

Wisdom

Jul19

It is said that with wisdom comes the ability
To solve difficult problems

Solving difficult problems requires courage
Courage to stand up for what is right

Solving problems requires love
Love that gives one the courage to go on

Solving problems requires patience
Patience under all circumstances

Solving problems requires strength
Strength to endure difficult times

Solving difficult problems leads to unity
Unity, the ultimate reward!

Lida Berghuis
July 17th, 2014