Tag Archive | sun

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

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

The passage

Apr27

The sky rained tears of sorrow
The volcano spewed lava the colour of blood
The grief was unbearable
But I had not choice but to carry on

To carry on
Till life returned
To carry on
Till smiles came back
To carry on
Until laughter reigned
To carry on
Till a new journey began

And this passage
Through the corridor of pain
Was the most severe test

The support of friends
What I needed and what I got
To be able to stand the pain
And carry on

And now the horizon
Is clear and bright
The sun is here
Darkness is gone

Perking up!

Apr8

Perking up!

Perking up
Very slowly
Sunshine is returning to my life
The Winter was long and towards the end
Blue, the color of my mood
And gone was my smile

Energy left me
Laughter disappeared
I was not in a happy place

Sometimes hope returned
But the cold and dark days persisted
And my mood did not change

The glimmerings of spring are here now
Snow is melting
It’s warmer outside
My mood is finally changing color
It’s on its way to rosy and bright

April 8th 2014
Lida Berghuis

Another note to self…

Dec12

If you’re tired and feel uninspired
Let it be…

If you’d like to see the sun but
It’s hiding behind the clouds
Let it be…

If you didn’t get something you wanted
Let it be…

Fighting what is, only brings one further down
Accepting what is, brings some calm

And always remember
Things will look up soon
Your energy will return
The sun will shine
Inspiration will visit soon

Contentment is the key
Doing the best with the situation we’re in
You never know what lessons
Are taught by sorrow and pain

If nothing else
It will increase your compassion
For others who are suffering as well
And remind you to help those in need
When the sun shines again

Each day be sure to count your blessings too
You can take so much for granted
And often don’t know what you have
Until it’s not there

Lida Berghuis
December 11th, 2013

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

A few of my favorite things

Jul11

A few of my favorite things

What makes me happy are simple things
Reading, writing, talking to friends
Laughing and being silly sometimes

Walks with Albert
Hugs from my kids
Early mornings
Sitting in the sun

Learning new things
Meeting new people
Traveling
Nature walks

Flowers
Beautiful things and
Art!

Lida Berghuis
July 11th, 2013

Not logical at all!

Feb25

Love is not logical
Love is not practical
Love is not easy
Love is not convenient at all!

It arrives when it wants
It remains despite our protests
And doubts!

And it will be clear
Without a shadow of a doubt
That something extraordinary
Has happened
It can’t be ignored
Or put off!

Love is a journey
Not a destination to be reached!
The journey fraught with challenges
And road blocks
With joy and exaltation
With tears and laughter
With confusion and doubt!

But the one who stays on the road
Is not scared off
Does not give up
Reaps the rewards

And what are the rewards of love?
Joy and wonder!
Growth and the flowering of the soul!
A new lease on life!
And seeing the world
Through the rose coloured glasses of love!

Like the sun
Love is blinding
Powerful
And it can burn!

Like the sun
Love gives warmth
Sustenance
Brilliance
And life!

Like the sun
Love is essential
Has always been!

Love is not logical
It’s not practical
It arrives without notice
And refuses to leave!

Lida Berghuis
February 14th, 2013