Tag Archive | writing

Over fifty

Jan31

Being over fifty can be so cool
First of all, you’ve passed forty and
The world did not fall apart

Then, your children are older
And you have more time

You don’t have the anxiety of trying to figure out your life
You have accumulated some wisdom

Now that I’m over fifty I know
It’s OK to laugh out loud in a crowd
I know what I like and what I don’t like

I don’t worry as much about what other people think
I feel free to write my heart out

I’ve lived, fallen, got up and smiled
I have things to write about

I’ve discovered my passion and finally know
What I want to be when I grow up

I’ve made it through the sleepless nights
When my children were young
Now, I can go to bed before they do
And that’s alright

A wrinkle here, a wrinkle there
But who cares
Why should we be afraid of wrinkles and age spots
I think we should wear them like badges of honor and
Be proud of them like battle scars

So, all is well, all is right
I’m over fifty and even now
The world has not fallen apart
If anything I know better who I am
And what my strengths are
January 31st, 2016

Finding the sacred in us…

Aug20

Can a place draw you closer to your
Authentic self…
To the sacred within you?

Can a place move you so that you forget
What was pre-occupying you?
Replacing it with feelings of thankfulness
And serenity?

Can a place have the fragrance of love?
Even the air you breath, different from
Other places?

Can a place lift you up to the heights of ecstasy
And bring you to the shore of joy?

Can a place draw you to itself as if
A force was attracting you?

Can a place inspire you to write
To record your thoughts and feelings?

Yes, such places do exist
And when I find one I keep going back
To fill my cup!

August 17th, 2015

Why I write

Apr8

My hands miss the paper I write on
My heart misses expressing its feelings and thoughts
Where has my creativity gone?

There is some colour in my life from time to time
But shades of grey dominate
I want to leave these dreary colours behind
And so I write!

I write to feel like me again
I write to feel free again
I write to feel joy again
I write to be me again!

Lida Berghuis
April 8th, 2015

My sanity!

Dec4

One hour a day, I treat myself
I treat myself to a cup of coffee
In a sunny coffee shop (when the sun it out)
I treat myself to
Reading what I want
Writing what I want
Contemplating life…

I treat myself because
The rest of day
I think of my family and their needs
I think of my students and their needs
I take care of my responsibilities and my to-do list

And because I treat myself one hour a day
I’m a happier person the rest of the day!

Being selfless is good I’m sure
And I am selfless some of the day
But I need my hour that’s for me
In order to function optimally!

Giving and being there for others
Is a noble thing
But so is taking care of my sanity!

Lida Berghuis
December 4th, 2014

Fabulous 50!

Sep28

Turning fifty has turned out well
Who says 50 can’t be fun!
Turning fifty has all kinds of advantages
To prove my point, here are some…

First, life is less hectic
The kids are now older and can do so much more for themselves
They can even lend a hand here and there and make my load lighter
They do their own laundry, their own homework
They can drive themselves places and…
They can even feed themselves if need be!

Second, life is more stable
And my chosen career is enjoying a good flow
Uncertainties have changed to certainty in some areas of life

Third, now that I’m somewhat sure of myself and the decisions I make
I don’t need everyone’s approval all the time
And with that comes peace of mind!

Fourth, I’ve learned to set some limits
As to what I can and cannot do!
Saying no to some projects is becoming easier!

Fifth, I’ve learned not to compare myself with others
Their limits, their level of energy, their priorities are theirs
And I have my own!

Sixth, My fifty years of life have given me some understanding
In some areas of life
And I feel happy to share some of that with others sometimes

Seventh, I’ve realised the value of art, creativity, and writing in my life
I know now why I need to write, why I want to write, why I have to write!

I think seven reasons are enough
Although I think there are more reasons
Why I like being fifty!

The more years we live
The more accumulation of experience and knowledge we can have
If this translates into wisdom and compassion and deeper faith
How can that ever be bad?

Turning fifty has been wonderful
I feel comfortable in my own skin
Life has not been easy always
But then challenges are necessary in life
I’ve been fortunate in so many ways
I am thankful for the good and the hard times
In hind sight, the hard times have taught me more
Getting up after falling down has made me stronger
I still feel quite fragile sometimes
But being sensitive is alright!

I accept who I am
How far I’ve come
And I look to the future
With an open heart and an open mind!

Lida Berghuis
September 22nd, 2014

On the lookout for beauty

Aug28

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On the lookout for beauty
Something to cheer my soul
Because doesn’t beauty do that so well?

A beautiful melody
A beautiful arrangement of flowers
A beautiful piece of art
A beautiful poem
A beautiful song!

All these cheer my soul
Bring me to a place of calm
I can leave my worries behind along with
My to-do list, my obligations, my responsibilities
All these can wait for a few moments as I breathe in
Deeply the fragrance of beauty

The challenges of life are many
And in the end, one of the things that sustains me
Is beauty!
In a world full of trials
Where sadness and sorrow can’t be avoided
Where we are tested each day
Where disappointment is inevitable…
Art and beauty provide a balm
A reason to go on and
To celebrate life and love

Lida Berghuis
August 3rd, 2014

They have grown up!

Nov10

When I want to go to bed before my kids
I know that they have grown up!

When Nicki can prepare a power point and I can’t
I know that he has grown up!

When Natalie can wear my clothes
I know that she has grown up

When Nicki can comfort me
I know that he has grown up

When he asks for an Ipod and laptop
I know that he thinks he has grown up!

When I realize Natasha is taller than me
I know that she has grown up

When she writes stories that are
More imaginative than mine
I know that she has grown up!

It seems like yesterday
When we brought them home from the hospital…
How quickly, they have grown up!

2009
Lida Berghuis

Exhaling…

Oct23

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

Rendezvous!

Sep12

Another fall, another season, another day
Another rendezvous at my place of calm
A rendezvous with myself and my thoughts!

This is what brings balance into my life
This is what nourishes my soul
This is what cheers my heart!

My daily rendezvous
To contemplate
To go only where quiet can take me
Where silence is the guide
Where words appear
Seemingly out of nowhere
Where I feel refreshed
After saying my piece
To who I’m not sure of
But what I am sure of
Is that this rendezvous is now necessary
Not optional!
It centers me
It relaxes me
And I’m even content not to know why!

Lida Berghuis
September 12th, 2013

Why?

Aug23

Nothing to say
No urgent thought
Yet my wish is to write
Why?

I’ve stopped asking that question
Not everything needs a reason
Not everything can be understood
Curiosity is good
But if time after time
The answer eludes me
I let it go

Somethings are not understood by the mind
Somethings need to be accepted by our hearts

Wishing to understand everything
Limits us
My understanding is limited
So, I open my heart!

Lida Berghuis
August 23rd, 2013