Tag Archive | happy

My choices

Feb6

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The life I’ve chosen

Is the best life for me

Not for anyone else

Comparing my choices to that of others is not productive

We all have different aspirations in the world

Mine can be very different from yours

All that matters is that I’m content with the choices I’ve made

Even the unconventional ones

Even the ones that turn heads

All that matters is that I examine my life

And see if I’m satisfied 

There are no right choices or wrong ones

Once we make a choice

We need to accept the consequences

We make the best decision we can with what we know at the time

No looking back

Only going forward

February 5th, 2023

Our group

Aug10

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Why do I spend so much of my time 

With my friends around the world

On our WhatsApp group or on Zoom?

Why do I try to read every post?

Why have I done that for the past five years without fail?

OK, during two trips I was delinquent 

There is a bond that connects us that goes far back in time

New bonds have been created in recent years

The space in which we meet is a positive one

With words of wisdom

With poetry and song

With artistic photographs

With chit chat of good friends

With laughter and joy

Why would I not want to go back?

 

In this world full of challenges

We need these kind of spaces

Safe spaces

Kind spaces

Happy spaces

Where we can express ourselves

Widen our horizons

Learn new things

Or simply be with our friends

 

So much love and effort 

Has been put in this space over the years

It’s like a building that has been built

A fortress

A fortress to keep us safe during difficult times

This fortress is made of love

 

August 9th, 2020

 

ps: This group of friends is made of over one hundred classmates who went to high school together is the late 1970’s in Iran. Now, we live all over the world, spending time together in the virtual world, as well as coming together in person.

Move through it

May10

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When a negative thought comes to mind

Think of three positive ones

When you feel disappointed

Think of what you’re grateful for

When things don’t go your way

Remember you don’t always know best

When your are overwhelmed

Take a deep breath

Our days are full of ups and downs

We can’t be happy all the time

But we can be content

We can be calm

That’s in our own hands

Though somethings are not

Our attitude determines our point of view

Our point of view, how we feel

We can wallow in the valley of sadness

Or, we can move through it

May 10th, 2019

 

Sent from my iPad

Me time

Apr21

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What do I do when I want to relax?
What do I do to get away from it all?
What do I do for me time?
The answer is simple: I write

Sometimes what I write is interesting
Other times, not so much
The purpose is not always
Creating a work of art
It’s emptying my cup

There is a calm that comes over me
When I write
I can’t explain it
Don’t know why
But that writing is one of my favourite things
There is no doubt
Give me a pen and paper
And a writing spot
Preferably in a coffee shop
And I’ll be happy and satisfied

Why expressing myself
Brings me joy, I don’t know
Why do I have this need to write
I don’t know
All I know is that writing gives me life
Refreshes my soul and cheers my heart

April 21st, 2018

What is love?

Feb5

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What does love mean
After the initial giggles and butterflies?

What does love mean
Besides a huge emotional upheaval
That changes one’s life?

What does love mean
Besides the pain of separation
And joy of reunion?

What does love mean
Besides laughter and happy times?

It means I’ll love you despite your shortcomings
Because I have those too

It means I’ll hold you when you cry
Because that time will come

It means I’ll walk along side you on the stony path
Life is full of those

It means I’ll catch you when you fall
Because you might

It means I’ll sometimes put you before myself
That I won’t get my way each time

It means I’ll problem solve and compromise
That I’ll be your companion for life

Love means I’ll work on our relationship each day
Because love needs nourishment

Love means we will walk this path together
Hand in hand, side by side

 

February 5th, 2018

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

Speak your mind…

Aug6

Speak your mind…

Say what you mean
Mean what you say
You’ll be happier
And others as well…

Hiding your emotions
Hiding your concerns
Is not a sign of consideration
And kindness
It’s a form of deceiving others
And yourself

When you pretend to be happy when
Your’s sad
You’re wasting a lot of energy
Keeping up the facade

When someone says something hurtful
And you remain silent
You’re hiding your emotions from them

So, speak your mind
With tact and care
Because you don’t want to hurt others instead

But speak your mind
Live out loud
It will serve you well in the long run…

Lida Berghuis
August 6th, 2015

Behind the mask…

Dec15

inukshuk

In our lives
We wear various masks
To appear ‘normal’
To look ‘happy’

So many people wear the mask of ‘normal’
That we feel we will stand out if we don’t
So many of us put on a show
That the show appears to be reality

But so often behind the mask of happy
Hides an injured heart, a despondent soul
Someone looking for love

When one of us takes off the mask of perfection
Admits to having challenges, needing support
It’s easier for someone else to do the same
And if this process happens enough times
We will feel less inclined to hide
Hide our true feelings
Hide our distress
Hide what’s bothering us
Pretend we’re fine!

Lida Berghuis
December 15th, 2014

Acting happy, feeling sad*

Apr13

A brilliant smile on my face
Only if I felt like that inside
Too hard to share my pain with others
I put on a happy front

Acting happy, feeling sad
Acting like everything is fine
What you see on the surface
Does not reflect what’s inside

Acting happy, feeling sad
Cannot share the turmoil within
Too much to explain
What would I say?
It’s easier just to smile

Acting happy, feeling sad
An actress in my own life
But the script was not written for me
I’m writing it as I go along

Acting happy, feeling sad
Feeling unauthentic and unreal
Tired of putting on a show
There is no joy in this smile!

Lida Berghuis

*This poem was written a while back when I felt down.
It can apply to other situations in which we hide
our true feelings from others.

Will you love me when I’m sad?

Nov26

We think we are only lovable
When we are happy and all is fine
We think that others want to be around us
Only when we laugh and have fun

But in reality
Our true friends will love us even more
When our days are dark
And our emotions are low

They know we’re in pain
They know we don’t choose to be sad
They won’t abandon us
At times like that

I’ve been there too
Felt like that
Felt like I’m only lovable
When happy and glad

Felt like my tears would turn people away
Felt like my frown would bring them down

But those who loved me
Showed me I was wrong
They stood by me…
They held my hand when my hope was gone
When my days were cloudy and dark

I came to realise that we all have ups and downs
And the downs are what can bring us closer to those we love

We may feel not lovable at those times
We may wonder what’s wrong with us
We may be impatient with ourselves…
But not so our friends

They will love us back to health
They will give us a reason to go on
That’s what true friends are for
For happy times
But more so, for sad times

Lida Berghuis
November 26th, 2013