You Never Know

She would always give a kiss hello…

and then a hug goodbye.

One day, when I was older,
I stopped…to ask her why.

“Because,” she said, “I never know 

if this moment will be my last.

If today I get to keep on living…

or will I slip into the past.”

“So every moment I am alive,

I try to laugh

to love

to cry…

and why I’ll always kiss hello

and hug to say goodbye.”

She has been gone for many years now

but I like to think she’s smiling from her place up in the sky…

every time she sees me kiss hello…

every time she sees me hug goodbye.

Happiness

One man searched for happiness

He traveled far and wide

He wanted to experience happiness

at least once...before he died.

He visited many cities,

he hiked the mountains,

he walked the beach.

Yet the happiness he so desperately sought

seemed to hover out of reach.

He never found his happiness.

Many who seek it...never can.

And after years of searching for it...

he died

an unhappy man.

Another man never searched for happiness

yet he found it every day

in the myriad of things and people

he met along his way.

“How is it you’ve never searched for happiness” he was asked,

“but with happiness you’ve been blessed?”

“Why would I search for something....” he smiled.

“That all this time…I have possessed?”

A SENIOR MOMENT

I am not a fashionista…

which perhaps you might have guessed.

But my clothes are usually neat and clean…

and I try to look my best.

The other day, however, I learned a little of what fashion’s all about

when my wife and I stopped at the bank and she whispered…

“Jim…your shirts on inside out.”

I quickly assessed the situation…and darned if she wasn’t right.

I looked for sympathy from the teller…but she was chuckling at the sight.

In a failed attempt to rescue my pride…I seized my only chance.

“Oh, it’s not inside out.” I said, “it’s how they’re wearing shirts in France.”

“Ho, ho…thees will be the style zoon.” I said in my best French pantomime.

“Inside out! ooh la la and sacre bleu…I’m just ahead of my time.”

I think I had the men convinced

but the women were looking at me strange…

then the teller leaned over and whispered,

“We have a bathroom where you can change.”

So I smiled, stood up proud and tall…and without making a sound

Walked into the bathroom…and turned my shirt around.

Perhaps one day the fashion world…will understand what I’m about…

until then I will acquiesce…and wear shirts right side out. 

Humanity

If you want others to be happy- practice compassion

If YOU want to be happy- practice compassion.

The Dalai Lama

What is it that makes us human?

I imagine most people would agree…

an essential human attribute…

is our humanity.

Compassion, generosity, benevolence…

acting honorably…

kindness, a tender heart…and love…

these are the definitions of humanity.

It is precisely our kindness and generosity

that allows humanity to thrive…

Without them…without love…without compassion…

humanity cannot survive.

Until we embody this definition

humans we will not be.

For humans cannot be humans...

without humanity.

Without My Glasses

I like to walk without my glasses

for then my world’s a hazy blur.

Nothing I see is crystal clear

it’s all a bit obscure.

The longer I walk

the more all objects and colors interplay.

It’s as if I’m walking through a world

that was painted by Monet.

When I see people on my walk

whether or not I know their name

I cannot tell their color, their sex or their religion

for they all look the same.

Which means just like in a library

when I’m searching for a book

I have to withhold my judgement

Until I have a closer look.

Which also means and I know in the world we live in now

this sounds bizarre

but I can’t judge people by what they look like

I have to judge them by who they are. 

So I wonder…

Would our world be a happier, more peaceful place

if we somehow found a way

for all our eyes to see the world

like a painting my Monet?

Every Morning

Every morning,, when I wake up, 

I stop and take a while,

to remember what makes me happy,

the things that make me smile…

A baby’s laughter, 

flowers blooming,

chocolate… 

holding hands.

Sunsets

friends

family…

a walk along the sand.

The aroma of cookies baking,

the smell of peanut butter in a jar…

My favorite book,

or music,

or movie…

gazing at the stars.

It takes me but a moment

and I’m sure there are things I’ve missed…

but it makes me eager to begin the new day

and start adding to my list.

FEAR

Fear is a strange anomaly...

for it’s certain we’ll never prevail

If we refuse to take a chance 

for fear that we might fail.

It’s true when we come upon a river bank

It would be safer if we stay...

for jumping in will get us wet

and we’ll face hazards along the way.

And there’s a chance if we jump in

we’ll fail miserably...

Ahhhhh....

But there’s an equal chance, that same river,

will lead us to the sea.

When you’re afraid of the unknown

here’s where to begin:

Stand on the edge...

take a deep breath

and tell yourself,

“Look Out! I’m divin’ in.”