our decision to grow
dear friend
you and i both
love to give
we are builders
in the making
building people
new life
new freedom
we also
love to grow
we know
the more we grow
the more capable
of giving
we become
in what ways
are we growing now
in what ways
do we most hope
to grow from here
we grow flowers
outside
in the garden
but we also
grow them
in our inner garden
beautiful blossoms
of loving spirit
we have faith
in our capacity
to grow
we believe in
the impossible
we have seen
flowers rise
from rocky soil
growth
every flower
inner or outer
is a dream come true
we were
a little sparkle
in our daddy’s eye
before we
were conceived
the dream comes first
then the seed
the nurture
and the blossom
are we open
to growth
that is
the question
every day
are we open
to growth
are we open
and available
to receive new life
or are we held back
by self doubt
and distrust
sometimes
growth
arrives by surprise
a pleasure
a pain
or both
and we emerge
from the experience bigger
more aware
seeing all things
all people
more deeply
our surprise experience
opens the door
to more life
but most
of our most valuable
experiences of growth
do not just
happen to us
if we wait
until they do
we may be waiting
for the rest
of our life
instead of being passive
we need to
muster the courage
to go out
in the world
and find the person
the person
who can open a door
to more life
for us
the mentor/teacher/coach/therapist
the writer/singer/artist
the friend/partner
find that person
and connect with them
receive
what they
so much want
to give us
receive it and
build with them
it takes courage to grow
it takes courage
to go
out into
the big wide world
with eyes wide open
and heart full of love
find the door
that’s right for us
and open it
receiving isn’t passive
you are not
being passive
as you read this
you are actively receiving
and evaluating
the meaning
of my words
i offer insight
not advice
you explore
each one
to see
if it opens a door
for you
it was enlightening
to discover
how much
of my life
was my own
construction
the good the bad
and the ugly
when i share
that insight
you may think
i am blaming the victim
i am not
i am explaining the victim
putting into words
the workings
of the mind
so that we
can understand
ways we defeat
and victimize ourselves
so we can summon
our strength
to fortify
and love ourselves
instead
i seek to gently
offer you words
that shed light
on causation
words
without judgment
or blame
i seek
to explain suffering
at the causal level
so that we
can more effectively
prevent it
by rejecting the path
of passive surrender
taking the initiative
it is the times
we didn’t
take the initiative
that we regret
the times
we didn’t take
the chance to grow
the times
we decided
to sit it out
instead of dance
most of
our most powerful
growth experiences
we actively
sought out
they did not
just fall
from the sky
we were hungry
to grow
and we found
catalytic people
to collaborate with
we proudly remember
those times
when we took matters
into our own hands
and created our own
life changing experiences
we looked into our future
saw a downward path
we could take
but we didn’t
instead
we made
our courageous declaration
no
i ain’t goin’ down
i’m goin’ up
we made
our decision
to grow
Being kind and generous doesn’t require much thought or effort, but the residuals keep growing.
💕
“When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety;
if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain.
From this I understand that what I want also wants me, is looking for me and attracting me.
There is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp it.” - Shams-i Tabrizi