Tag Archive | Life

The person I’ve become

Jan16

The person I’ve become
Is more authentic, more real!
I don’t wear a mask as much
I confide in my friends

The person I’ve become
Knows her limits better
I don’t compare myself to others as much
I’ve learned to say no more often
I’ve learned to ask for what I need

The person I’ve become
Takes more responsibility
Feels more empowered to create change
To change myself
My thoughts
And therefore my actions and feelings

The person I’ve become
Sees challenges as an integral part of life
Not to run from
But to learn from

The person I’ve become
Takes care of herself
Without self care, one can’t help others
One burns out!

The person I’ve become
Sees interdependence as essential
Life is not meant to be lived in a solitary way
We need each other’s help
We need to build deep, authentic friendships and
Call on each other when we need support and help

The person I’ve become
Knows there is more to learn
There is always room for improvement
Ways to do things better
New ways of thought
Deeper understanding

The person I’ve become
Is more thankful
Seeing good in all that comes my way
The person I’ve become
Tries not to take simple things for granted!

Lida Berghuis
January 15th, 2015

"Forge meaning from adversity"

Jan4

Adversity is a blessing if we are able to look
With the eye of wisdom and see the gems hidden in it

Adversity is opportunity for growth
Adversity makes visible the invisible
Shows us what’s essential and
Guides us to surrender, humility, and acceptance

When faced with adversity
One can crumble and complain incessantly
Or one can decide to take an active part
In tackling the situation
Not running from it
Not hoping for miracles
Not blaming others and even God!
But resolving to see what can be learned
How best one can cope and to keep setting
Noble goals despite what may seem like
Unsurmountable limitations

Lida Berghuis
January 2nd, 2015

Life is hard, but…

Jan4

Inevitable periods of hardship…
Inevitable, because they are part of life
And they have a purpose

I think back to the hardships I’ve experienced
Hardships that are insignificant compared to
What others have experienced

I think back to those times
And wonder how they could have been avoided
How I could have felt less pain, less loneliness, less sorrow

And then suddenly I realise that
Those periods of hardship
Have been a necessary part of my growth
And development

That I need not look back at them
And feel bad for myself
Or wonder why I made the decisions I made

I need to look back with thankfulness
Because each experience has taught me something essential

I need to remember that the life’s purpose
Is not to avoid pain and sorrow
Pain and sorrow, challenges and difficulties
Are essential to our growth

In retrospect, I’m thankful for all that has come my way
The happy times, the sad times
Each and every experience has shaped me
And taught me a precious lesson

Life is hard
But this hardship has a purpose
If we are willing to reflect on our experiences
And grow from them

Lida Berghuis
December 30th, 2014

Authenticity

Dec16

“Vulnerability is the birth place of love, creativity
joy, and belonging”

One has to risk rejection to find love
One has to be open to trying something new and untested to be creative
One has to have known sorrow to know joy
One has to share one’s weaknesses to be welcomed into an authentic relationship

It’s easy to show our happy, together, confident, optimistic side
It takes courage to show our pain, sorrow, insecurities, and doubts

It’s easy to play it safe, afraid of making a mistake
It takes courage to take a leap of faith

It’s easy to decide when the outcome is clear
It’s more difficult to accept the uncertainties of life

I used to want a letter from God
telling me which way to go and what option to choose
I know now that growth comes from making the best decision with the information I have
Knowing that it may not lead me to the desired destination right away
But  that eventually I’ll find my way

Life is not a straight line
It’s a jagged line
Or perhaps it’s a meandering river
Going to the right or left sometimes
But all the way adjusting its course to reach the ocean

And the way to accept this perceived imperfection in our path
Is to realize that in any case, we are worthy of love!

Lida Berghuis
December 16th, 2014

*Brene Brown

Separation cooks…

Nov13

“Separation cooks”
And this is the cooking that transforms raw ingredients
Into a delicious stew
Fire and heat bind the pieces together
To create a beautiful whole

Heat is not comfortable
It is not desirable
But it’s necessary to achieve the goal

One has to burn in the fire of trials to attain wisdom

And separation is a trial
It’s not comfortable
It’s not desirable
The fire of separation burns the heart
And consumes the soul
But what is the result?
Wisdom, forbearance, steadfastness, patience
And a more mature love!

Lida Berghuis
November 13th, 2014

*Rumi

The journey

Oct28

The road of life is not a smooth ascent
straight up the mountain
Sometimes we travel to the right or to the left
But let’s not forget that we are still moving forward and gaining wisdom along the way

When making decisions on this journey
Perhaps it’s not a matter of making the correct choice
It’s a matter of choosing to the best of our ability and moving forward
The results will guide our future steps

There is always time to get to where we want to get
Our life is not a race where detours can cost us ultimate victory
Life is a meandering road with surprises, dead ends and detours
All of which are part of the process of moving forward

And perhaps the emphasis should be
On moving forward
Because at any destination we reach
Another journey begins

Perhaps the reason why we are on this road
Is not to reach certain destinations
As fast as possible
But to learn our lessons along the way
And to help others on their way

And when the destination is not the most
Important thing on our mind
We may feel less stressed
Less rushed
Less judged
And more joyful

Lida Berghuis
October 28th, 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

The art of life…

Oct13

The art of life…
The hardest art to master
The lessons start when we are young
And never end like any other art!

This art’s techniques are endless
Kindness, compassion, love, honesty
Generosity, curiosity, persistence and so on
These techniques we can learn early on
But to perfect them, one needs time

There are many teachers we come across
Each teaches us something new and exciting
But mastery comes only with practice
And that part is up to us!

There may be times we wish to start a piece
We are creating over again
Times when we look at an older piece
And wonder, ‘where was my head’
Some pieces take a very long time
Some pieces feel inspired and need no effort at all!

But if we persevere
If we work hard
We can create such beauty with this art!
And old pieces may not look perfect
But they were part of the process
And we never start perfect!

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

Inspired by a talk by Herbie Hancock
On creativity and art

My laughter does not age!

Oct6

 

img_4219

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

Judgemental!

Oct5

This is good, this is bad!
So goes the thinking in my head sometimes
I’m too late, It took too long
I was so much more productive yesterday
That must mean yesterday was good
And today is not!

I’ve noticed I judge too much!
Not only others
I judge myself too much!
I’m tired, and that must be bad!
I have to much to do, that can’t be good!
I’m bored, and that surely is bad!
Actually that hasn’t happened in a while!

My point is
I judge the situation too much
It is what is
It’s neither good, nor bad!
It’s just the state of affairs as they are
And this state is bound to change
That’s how things are in this life!

So, in the meantime
Why be so judgemental?
It is what it is on this day
And it will surely change in the days to come!

Less judgement means less stress
Fewer negative thoughts
Less worry
And much more love
For who I am now and
For what is right now!

Lida Berghuis
October 4th, 2014