Tag Archive | meaning

Success

Dec16

image

Success is in achieving one’s goals

It’s not living our lives based on what is expected of us

Or what society dictates

The goals we set are meaningful to us

They are usually based on what our talents are

What’s important to us

What we’re passionate about

We don’t have similar goals

We are all different people with different aspirations

I set some goals for myself early in life

Some other goals evolved along the way

I’ve been working towards achieving them

My goals may be unconventional

Unusual and not the norm

But they are my goals

They bring me pleasure 

And give my life meaning

I’m learning to be content with my chosen path

December 16th, 2020

Questions

Jul14

 

When the doors close
Turn around
When the road is blocked
Choose another path

But what about perseverance?
What about persistence?
What about that?

The line between attachment
And detachment
Becomes blurry in an instant

What is stubbornness?
What is persistence?
When should one let go?
When should one move on?

Life’s a puzzle
And sometimes a maze
With big question marks
Around each bend

Give up on the idea
Of an easy life
Where things are straight forward
Where answers are found

September 20th, 2007

Serenity

Apr5

What brings us joy and serenity
Is a sense of purpose and meaning
Waves of happiness and sadness come and go
But underneath, the ocean is calm

Pleasure is like bursts of bright light
Serenity a soft light that always shines

Our response is what gives a situation meaning
A positive response to a harsh situation
Comes from wisdom
April 4th, 2016

Transformation

Aug21

It’s the times that we think
Nothing is happening in our lives
Or the times that challenge us most that
Make us who we are

Change happens slowly
Transformation is not a one day affair

And often the experiences that change us the most
Are not the most pleasant

They take us out of comfort One
They make us question our beliefs
They test our endurance and constancy

And only when we look back
Can we see what was happening
Had a transformative effect

But change requires a conscious effort
To see things in a new way
To question our assumptions
To search for meaning

It’s our thoughts and actions
That lead to change
The desire to learn
To look with new eyes
To understand better
To go deeper

And perhaps it can be a solace
During challenging times to know
Life changing can be the result…

Celebration

Jul8

imageAfter a long winter
I needed a new wardrobe
New clothes representing
A new me, a rebirth

After major upheavals one needs to
Mark the occasion, learn the lessons
And try to forge meaning from what was

Sometimes we can’t explain everything
Some mystery remains
But that is part of the condition of this life

I look forward more than I look behind me
I try to put my energy in new projects, new beginnings
And celebrate the coming of spring

"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

Love’s confusing joy*

Jul10

Confusing, because
It is unexpected
unexplainable
Often times unreasonable
And impractical

Joyous, because
It makes you smile
It cheers your heart
It gives meaning to life

Confusing, because
It often does not make sense
It’s complicated
It involves trials

Joyous, because
It brightens your day
Makes you feel wanted
Gives you wings to fly

Confusing joy
Is what love brings
And what welcome confusion
It is!

Lida Berghuis
July 8th, 2013

*quote from Rumi

I thought I could not!

Feb20

I thought I could not
But I did!
I thought I would crumble and fall
but I did not!
I thought joy was gone forever
But it returned!
I thought the night would never end
But morning came!

I thought all hope was lost
And the reason to live
Had become hard to find
I thought this time was different
And I would not survive

I thought I had come to the end of my rope and could not take another step
I thought life was unfair
And I’d suffered enough

I thought I had reached my
Threshold of pain
And continuing would only
Bring more of the same

But despite all that
Hope gradually returned
Suffering eased
And I smiled again!

Lida Berghuis
February 20th, 2013