Tag Archive | darkness

Focus on the light

Jun2

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There is pain in the world

There is hurt in the world

There is injustice as plain as daylight to see

There is corruption in the world

There is thirst for power

There is dishonesty

And amid this darkness

What is one to do?

Focus on the light!

Focus on doing what is right

Bring a little joy into someone’s day

Be of service, be honest

Feeling overwhelmed with darkness has no result

Focus on the light

Focus on the light

Lend a hand to someone else

Assuage someone else’s pain

In our world, darkness and light co-exist

Focus on the light

Darkness will one day be gone

June 2nd, 2022

Champions of light

Feb18

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Darkness is always conquered by light

Because the cause of light has many champions

Champions who fight with the sword of their words

Who light up their surroundings with their love

Champions who having suffered know what suffering is

Who are strong and don’t give up

Champions for the cause of justice and equality

Champions who fight for women everywhere

Champions who protect the rights of girl children

Champions who help elect a women president

Darkness may seem all consuming

But because of these champions, it will be defeated in time

February 18, 2022

Inspired by Amineh Kakabaveh

Iranian Swedish member of parliament

Not just sadness

Jul26

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It’s suffering, not just sadness

It’s like a suffocating weight on your chest

That you can’t lift no matter how hard you try

Others think it’s possible and that you’re not trying hard enough

There is no way you can explain to them how it feels

And that you’re trying your hardest

 

It’s suffering not just sadness

Sadness passes

Depression does not

It’s a guest that arrives

And refuses to leave

 

It’s suffering, not just sadness

The kind of suffering that makes you wonder

What it the point of being alive

It pushes you to the edge of the cliff

And you have to prevent the fall

 

It’s suffering, just not sadness

It’s hopelessness

You know this is not how you’re supposed to feel

It’s not normal

 

It’s suffering not just sadness

It’s not temporary

It lingers day after day

Tries your patience

Tests your beliefs

 

It’s suffering not just sadness

It’s a warm and humid room

With a small window

That you can’t open because it has rusted

 

The suffering ends eventually

Sadness leaves

Joy returns

And when it does 

You’ve learned not to take anything for granted in life 

 

July 26th, 2020

The other side

Dec24

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It’s easier to appreciate the light
When you have spent some time in darkness

It’s easier to prize clarity of mind
If you have struggled with anxiety

It’s easier to know the value of friends
If you go through hard times and they stand by you

Darkness, anxiety, and challenges
Have their purpose in our lives

But sometimes it’s easier to see the value
Once we are on the other side

December 20th, 2019

The struggle

Jan4

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This is a life of struggle

Struggle of good against evil

Right against wrong

Spiritual versus the material

Light versus darkness

And we will never be free of this struggle

We will never fully arrive

We will never fully conquer our ego

We will falter and fall

We will questions things we hold dear

We will fight external and internal demons

Storms will continue to assail us

Yes, there will be periods of respite

But the next storm is just around the corner

This is not a life of comfort and ease

No matter how materially successful we are

Tests will batter us like powerful waves

Hail will pelt our heads

This is how we grow

This is how we prove ourselves

This is how we show our steadfastness

But struggle we will

And struggle we must

January 3rd, 2019

Points of light

Nov14

The night is darkest before the dawn they say
Darkness is evident in the world today
Killing in the name of God has become common place
What God intended was love not this!

Children suffer and die from hunger
As we throw away mountains of food
Girl children are deprived of education
Who makes these rules?

Darkness rears its ugly head too often these days
But hope and love can’t be eliminated by darkness
The atrocities we see
The selfishness and hunger after power that perpetrates them
They sadden our hearts, but can’t demoralize us

Goodness and love
Compassion and kindness
Justice and mercy will prevail

There is a lot of gloom in the world
But there are points of light as well

Neighbours helping neighbours
People opening their homes to strangers
Out of love
Millions of people volunteering their time
Trying to make a difference in someone’s life

These points of light are our hope
Light will conquer darkness in the long run

November 14th, 2015
Lida Berghuis

The final analysis

Sep10

Sometimes emotions are so overwhelming
I don’t know what to feel
Should I be sad?
Should I be shocked?
Should I be astonished?

We put our faith in our fellow man
But so many times someone betrays that trust
And shatters the image we had built in our head

Then we have to readjust our understanding of reality
Perhaps we become jaded
Perhaps we become angry and frustrated
Perhaps we question the existence of justice and hope

But this state is not a healthy one
Hope is essential
Trust is essential
Faith that goodness exists is essential

Of course the hurt feelings will stay for a while
After all, we are not machines

All we can do is stay positive
Surround ourselves with good friends
And keep doing things that are worthwhile

Everything else is bound to work out
Because there is justice in the world
And even though some people try their best
To obliterate it, they won’t succeed

Justice will prevail
And light will overcome darkness
In the final analysis!

Lida Berghuis
September 9th, 2015

I know not!

May24

It’s time to rehash the last three months
When darkness fell upon my heart
When laughter did’t come easily anymore
When sorrow reigned and hope was gone

I see the light at the end of the tunnel now
My world is beginning to become colourful again
Shades of gray are replaced by yellow, red and green
Brightness is back, dreariness is gone!

And what was the purpose of this pain?
Why this suffering again and again?
The answers may elude me now
Perhaps I’ll know the reason why
Further down the road of life
The road where surprises hide
And answers are hard to come by

I felt like I was walking in a swamp
Every movement seemed so hard
Sometimes I wonder how I persisted
How I managed to smile from time to time

Writing, my joy in life left my side
Reading, my inspiration
Seemed laborious and hard
Joy left
Mental alertness left
I was surrounded by fog

I was not efficient
Not quick on my feet
I didn’t have any bright ideas worth sharing
But what choice did I have but to go on?
What Choice did I have…. none!

My friends were by my side
They’d throw me a line from time to time
Trying to keep me afloat a bit longer
As I struggled in the currents of life

It’s almost over
I’m almost there
And I’m thankful as can be
It’s a rebirth, another one
What is the wisdom?
I know not… I know not!

Lida Berghuis
May 22nd, 2015

Why talk about it?

Nov4

Why talk about it?
Because it needs to be talked about!
Why talk about it?
Because now, I can!
I’ve been silent in the past
Perpetuating the code of silence
But it’s easier to talk about it now
Having made peace with who I am

Why talk about it?
Because there are too many misconceptions out there
And silence perpetuates them!

Why talk about it?
To give others courage and permission to do the same!

Why talk about it?
To chip away at the stigma of depression and anxiety
These all too present chapters in our lives
That we rather skip, deny or forget!

Why talk about it?
Because anything that comes to light
Is not as scary as when it is lurking in the dark

Why talk about it?
So others know they are not alone
To let them know that there are answers out there
That there is light at the end of this tunnel of darkness!

Why talk about it?
So others know I understand their pain
Their suffering, their feeling of helplessness and hopelessness
I understand how much courage it takes
To keep going despite the constant pain!

Why talk about it?
Because it needs to be talked about
Because we need to break the code of silence
We need to speak out, so others can as well!

Lida Berghuis
November 4th, 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