Tag Archive | laughter

Have I grown up?

Nov2

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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

My favorite town…

Nov9

My favorite town would be a multicultural town
People of all colours and backgrounds getting along

My favorite town would be a creative town
Where artists gather
Art is appreciated
And it’s part of life

My favorite town would be sunny and warm
Warm but not hot
Lots of blue sky!

My favorite town would be a friendly town
Where people encourage each other all the time

My favorite town would be a beautiful town
Beauty of nature and man-made beauty existing side by side

My favorite town would be a colourful town
Alive with different shades and hues
Full of fun!

My favorite town would be a happy town
Laughter would be heard here and there
Giggles would fill the air

Montreal, where I live
Has many of the things that I want
Add lots of sun and warmer winters to what it has
And I’d be living in my favorite town!

Lida Berghuis
November 9th, 2014

My laughter does not age!

Oct6

 

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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

A few of my favourite things…

Jun24

My favourite things tend to be simple and free
A walk by the water in the spring sun
With a friend or a loved one
Writing my poems in a lovely place
Listening to music of all kinds
Conversations over tea
Spending time in nature
Reading

Aside from these things
What I love to do is to get to know
People of various cultures and travel

Some of this can be done right were I live
The world has come here
Not need to go searching

But traveling is fun and enlightening as well
Being outside one’s comfort zone
Being exposed to the old and new
Seeing things from another point of view!

Our world, so colourful and diverse
So many places one can go
So many cultures to get to know

Traveling does require means
But it doesn’t have to be impossibly expensive

This will be part of my dream in years to come
Traveling, meeting people and delving into
Other cultures and ways of thought

One more thing on my list
Is laughing out loud
At a joke
A gesture
A story
Or anything at all!

Laughter relaxing
Laughter Devine
This does not cost a thing
Only good company
Someone witty and bright

I’m sure I have other favourite things
But for now, I’ll keep it to this list!

Lida Berghuis
June 23rd, 2014

What if…

Jun22

What would have life been like
If I didn’t have my ups and downs
What would have life been like
If I did not cross the valley of darkness so many times?

What would have life been like
If my mind would not suddenly abandon me
My emotions keep me hostage
My creativity desert me?

What would have life been like
If the sun never set
If my energy was not depleted
And my arms and legs didn’t feel heavy like led?

What would have life been like
If competence did not suddenly depart
My laughter stayed
My smile was genuine all the time?

Why do I think of ‘what ifs’
There is no way back
What has been, has been
Can’t change the past!

Instead I should be thankful
For all that has gone well
For all the times the sun has shone bright
All the wonderful people in my life
All the places I have been
All the things I’ve done!

No one’s life is perfect
Or without trials
I know that of course
But I forget sometimes

I need to move on and be thankful
Luckily pain gradually subsides
And when it’s with us
It can be a teacher, a guide

Perhaps sadness doesn’t come my way by chance
Perhaps it’s designed to be part of my life
Perhaps suffering has its reasons
And I would not grow without these trials

Lida Berghuis
June 11th, 2014

Thinking of my dad!

Jun15

His laughter would ring across the room
Hi radiant smile was warm and genuine
He loved to have people over
To him, friends and family meant a lot

How would hold my hand in his and would say
You have beautiful hands Lida
And he would do this often
Just to remind me from time to time

Holding hands was our thing
When I was little
I would hold his index finger when we walked
His soft warm flesh soothing and reassuring in mine

When at the dentist I would hold his hand too
So I could squeeze it when it hurt
A strategy he taught me and I later used
When giving birth to each child
Only it was Albert’s hand that I held this time

He’d always tell me to pay more attention
To my penmanship
But writing super neatly is not my thing
I hope that now he doesn’t mind

His signature reflected his flamboyant spirit
It’s still one of my favorites
It was more of sign than a signature
Not many letters to be found

And when He came to me in a dream
He held my hand like old times
His soft warm hands so comforting

I asked him if he would be with me
Through the trials of life
He nodded …
And
That’s all I needed
He is with me even though he’s not…

Father’s day, 2014

The dance of life

Jun12

From the desert sun
To a rainy clime
To a land covered with snow
It seems like I’ve experienced it all

From the restrictions of tradition
To smelling freedom in the air
To being able to express my feelings and thoughts

From a shy girl in Shiraz
Too serious for her age
To gradually opening up
And making laugher a part of my life

From relative ease
To the violent storms of life
Interspersed with sun

From thinking to feeling
From science to art
From hesitation to creativity
From black and white to all the shades
In between in life
It’s been and eventful journey

Sometimes I still feel the insecure
18 year old in me
Many times the need to please
Still overtakes me

Have I changed and grown?
I have!
Have I stayed the same?
I have!

Have I been battered and bruised
I have!
Have I been showered with grace
I have!

And what do I see at this point
In my life
As I look back
As I look forward?

That life’s challenges will always be there
But the sun always comes out from
Behind the clouds

That being in control is an illusion
That change is a constant
That happiness is in appreciating the simple things in life
In helping others
In nurturing our talents
and in drinking deep the beauty of art

From the desert sun
To rain, to snow
I’ve experienced a lot
I’ve started over many times
I’ve laughed
I have cried

What the future brings
Remains to be seen
But I’ll try my best
To remain thankful and content
And greet each day with open arms

Lida Berghuis
June 10th, 2014

Genuine

Jan2

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A friend of mine once said:

You laugh like you have no care in the world!
You laugh like you have banished your problems!

Some of us smile
Some of us chuckle
But when you laugh, it’s from the depth of your heart
It’s unrestrained

I do laugh from the depth of my heart
Not because I have no cares or I’ve had none
I laugh this way because I have overcome
Overcome sadness and loneliness
Overcome pain and sorrow
Overcome anxiety and depression

I laugh out loud
Because I have cried
I laugh out loud
And this laughter is genuine
It’s not to show off
Not to stand out
Not to sadden others
Who may feel down

I hope my laughter brings others joy
I hope my laughter is contagious!

Lida Berghuis
December 31st, 2013

Feeling dial!

Nov25

Why do I always feel so much?
Why can’’t I be numb once in a while?
Why can’’t I shut down my heart
To the pain and sorrow that’’s around?

Not feeling is not the answer
Feeling numb does not make sense!
But feeling less may be OK
I think I need a feelings dial!

But a machine I’m not
And I don’t have a dial
I am who I am
And I have to accept it all
Accept my strengths
And my flaws

This world is not made
For perfect people
But for those who will try
And those who will strive

Strive to be better
Strive to serve
Strive to learn
And not give up

Not give up
In the face of calamity
In the throws of pain
Not give up
When the going gets tough
And the walls come up!

So I’’ll live my life
With its tears of sorrow
Its laughter and fun
I’’ll feel what I’’ll feel
I’’ll accept it all
Don’’t have much choice
So said a friend of mine!

Lida Berghuis
August 23rd, 2007

If you wonder why!

Sep6

You wonder why I laugh out loud
Why when I laugh, it’s from the depth of my heart
You wonder if I’m ever sad
You wonder of I ever feel down

I want you to know that I’ve also cried
Sometimes days on end and month after month
Sometimes I’ve cried so much
There were no more tears to cry

I want you to know that I’ve been down
Not once, not twice, but many times

I want you to know I’ve been on the edge of the abyss
Where I stood and wondered why I should not jump
I want you to know that I’ve known sadness, frustration, confusion and more

I laugh now because I know life can be tough
Challenges can assail us from every side
Surprises, pleasant and unpleasant are part of life

I laugh now because I have cried
And persevered long enough
To see the clouds part and the sun shine!

Lida Berghuis
September 6th, 2013