Floods in the city of my birth
Floods that could have been prevented
Floods that originate from mistakes
Floods that took the lives of the innocent
Floods that brought destruction and harm
Floods that could be a wake up call
The price has been paid by many lives
Lessons learned are too late for those who died
Kindness a solace for those in need
An occasion for generosity of spirit
March 25th, 2019
Another year comes to a close
A new year begins
Like any other year
There will be surprises in store
Storms will batter the coast line
The sun will warm up our hearts
Tears will flow
Laughter will ring out
Gratitude will bring us blessings
Friendship will nourish our souls
Lessons will be learned
Mistakes will be made
Poems will be written
Books will be read
Our journey on earth continues
And hopefully
We’ll pick up some wisdom along the way
December 28th, 2018
Some things in life we learn from our parents
Other things we learn through experience
Here are a few things that I’ve learned
That we can’t avoid pain in life
There is a place for suffering in our lives
That how we respond to painful situations
Is in our own hands
And that’s what will make the difference
That it’s OK to make mistakes
Making mistakes is part of life
And not something to be afraid of
Mistakes should be learning opportunities
Not to be dreaded and feared
That self care is important
It’s as important as being selfless
Without self care we can’t care for others
Without self care we become resentful
Without self care we can crash and burn
That it’s important to nurture our creativity
That art counts, poetry counts
Art can be a solace in our lives
Creativity a way to unwind
That art brings beauty into our lives
Helps us heal
Helps us shine
December 3rd, 2018
Did you have fun?
We sometimes ask our kids when they come home
The subtle message being life is supposed to be fun
I’m not trying to be a downer
And say life is always hard
But I feel our children should know
That life is often hard
We don’t learn much when everything goes our way
Not that there is anything wrong with that
But life is so much more than idyllic days when all goes well
And in all the hardship and heartache there are lessons to be learned
So, I tell my kids
Life is full of ups and downs
And they should not be surprised when
Difficulties come along
I tell them that they can learn from challenges and grow
Life is fun, but in reality, it’s often hard!
April 8th, 2016
It’s all about balance
This often illusive state
Balance between caring for others
And self care
Balance between work and play
Life has been teaching me how to creat
And maintain this balance
And my balance is different from yours
You may need six hours of sleep to be well rested
I may need eight or nine
You may be able to work full time and
Maintain a healthy family life
I may not
To create balance I need to know myself
Know my strengths and limitations
Life is not a one-size fits all
I have to respect my size
And it’s not a matter of good or bad
Productive or not
Successful or not
It’s about how I feel in my skin
How I like to live my life
Not comparing myself with others
My life is good when I feel fine
I keep learning each day
But I’ll try really hard
To remember what I’ve already learned
Sometimes, it takes a few times to get something
Sometimes I’ll make the same mistake again and again
But I’ve learned to be patient with myself
Some lessons take longer to master
And that’s all right
March 13th, 2016
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
“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
Life is full of ups and downs
The road is never smooth
Detours lurk here and there
Unpaved roads everywhere
I used to think that for some
The road was smooth most of the time
That is was my road that was so hard
I used to think if someone seemed happy on the outside
They were happy all the time
I used to think that my suffering was unique to me
My struggles only mine
I used to wonder why me
Why now…
Now I know all the obstacles were blessings in disguise
Now I know that there is no such thing as a smooth road in life
I used to think there is only one way to do things right
I used to feel paralyzed at a fork in life
What if I made a mistake?
What if I chose the wrong way?
Now I know all I needed to do was to make a start
There are many roads that lead to the same place
And sometimes we need to go the wrong way to find the right one!
I used to think
What if I make a mistake?
What a giant waste of time
But now I know that mistakes are essential parts of life
I used to think I knew what’s best for me
That I was usually right
But I now know that I’m here to learn with an open mind
Lida Berghuis
November 14th, 2013
I inhale as I experience life
I exhale when I write
I inhale when I read
When I listen to other people
I exhale when I write
Writing, something my well-being depends on
Not writing, something I can’t think of
I inhale sadness, joyfulness, confusion, frustration
I exhale when I write
I inhale as I learn the lessons of life
I exhale when I write
Lida Berghuis
Oct. 16th, 2013
We are stronger than we think we are
That thing which seems impossible can happen
The pain that seems unbearable
Can be tolerated
That sorrow that seems is here to stay
Will eventually leave
That problem which has been trying you
For so long
Will eventually be solved
All it takes is patience
All you have to do is not give up
When the goal is lofty
The path is often rocky
It’s better to expect set backs
At the start
Life is a marathon not a sprint
Said someone
We have to build up our stamina
Each defeat can teach us something
Each mistake can be a stepping stone
It takes a strong will
Not to give up at the first sign of trouble
It takes strength to leave what’s in the past
There and move on
LIfe has a way of teaching us these lessons, I’m afraid
It’s up to us
To learn from them nor not!
Lida Berghuis
May 16th, 2013
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