Dare To Dream

I bow my head and close my eyes

As I press my palms together;

I feel myself float in the skies

As soft and light as a feather.

And then I know the peace of bliss,

So tender like a maiden's kiss;

My thoughts are free to fly and roam,

A world sweeter than any home.

We all dream. In our minds, we see an idealized vision of the world; of whom we want to be - our goals and desires, our fears and our fortunes - all in the depths of our head. Our dreams are like a candle flame in a dark room; they light the path so that we may see. Dreams give our lives purpose and pleasure; they define our lives. We must never allow ourselves to extinguish that flame of hope. Without it, we would be empty inside; zombies that roam the land without any sense of emotion or purpose.

Cling to your dreams. Cherish them and do your best to make them a reality. For a dream is a greater world than any home; it is your life and soul, the very being of who you are. Dare to dream and live your life with purpose and prosperity.

The Sound Of Silence

One summer morning, I took a stroll through the woods. The sun shone like a gold coin and her rays flooded through me. I felt a tingling warmth creep up my body, a lightheadedness like I was flying through the air. Smiling, I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and let the cool crisp air fill my lungs. As I stood there, savoring the fresh air, I listened to the soft chirping of the sparrows in the trees. Their sweet song was like a choir of children singing at Sunday service. And my heart swelled within me to hear such soft, heartfelt music. A feverish trembling shook my frame as I strained to hear that symphony of sound. Coming closer, I stepped on a broken branch lying on the ground. The sudden snap was like a gunshot - the sparrows burst from the trees and shot straight for the sky. Raising a hand to shield my eyes, I watched them soar away.

a flying sparrow

flees like a speeding arrow

the sound of silence

The Light Of Life

moths

around a lantern

the lotus blooms

In each of us lives a desire to learn new things. We all have a fascination with how the world works. A natural curiosity inside of us that makes us yearn to discover new worlds. Like a moth, we are drawn to the light of learning. We must embrace this light and learn from it, for only then can we become enlightened in our lives and change our circumstances.

Do not be afraid to learn new things. Learning does not end after your formal education is complete. Rather, it is only the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery - the search for yourself. Learning is a diamond more priceless than all the money in the world, for unlike wealth, it can never be taken from you -  it is yours forever. Thus, we should fill our minds with the light of wisdom and learn about ourselves and the world we live in. Only then, can we say we have truly lived.

The Power Of Writing

Sitting out in the sun, I dreamed of people and places far in the past. I thought of the rise and fall of civilizations and the great advances in science and technology. How the arts and music have enriched the lives of people all over the world. The immense achievements of humanity since the rise of Sumer are astounding and a credit to the originality of human thought. It is this thought and a system of recorded writing that has enabled us to learn from our predecessors. Instead of our wisest people losing the information they have gleaned over a lifetime, their recorded thoughts live on and enrich the lives of future generations. We owe a great debt to the invention of writing. It is one of the finest achievements of the human race.

Summerian

pictographs on clay tablets

emoticons

Are You Ready To Rest?

hot days

on the highway

still nights

The day is long, and the work is weary. And yet, our bodies need rest. All too often, we force ourselves past our threshold. We continue even when our body is signaling us to stop. Coffee, chocolate, and other stimulants are used to keep us going. This may be acceptable for short-term gains, but in the long run, we are hurting our minds and bodies. You must know when to stop. A strategic withdrawal is always better than a rout.

But how do you know when to rest? And for how long? In this, your body is your greatest friend. It will signal to you when you need to stop. These are some of the most common symptoms that should put you on alert:

1. Yawning.
2. Eyes can not stay open.
3. Loss of concentration.
4. Fatigue.

When you notice these signs, get some rest. Doctors recommend at least eight hours of sleep a day. This is a good guideline to follow to make sure your body and mind are in peak condition.

Listen to your body and respect it. It will serve you faithfully on the highways of life. Are you ready to rest?

Angry Ambition

summer dreams

I sit by the lake

and think

As humans, we all dream and desire recognition of some sort. After all, it is one of the driving forces in our lives - the need to excel. Ambition is a wonderful thing - if used properly it can propel us toward a distant goal. With ambition, the dreams we have can often be turned into reality.

But there is a dark side to ambition. In our struggle for recognition, some people take this to an extreme level - they try to destroy other people's careers and lives. For them, the end result is everything - burn your boats and take no prisoners kind of attitude. This is what I call "angry" ambition. It is this greed for excessive power and money that has destroyed many a person.

Understand: You can achieve your dreams with ambition. But do not hurt others in your quest for personal fulfillment. The world is a big enough place, and there would be less misery if people showed a little kindness and consideration to others. We are all in this together: one world, one life, one dream.

Wonderous Wine

One night in the summer of June, I lay in a meadow and gazed up at the stars. I felt a great stirring within me to see the heavens arrayed like a diamond necklace. Their sparkling dazzled my eyes, and my pulse quickened at their splendor. I felt lightheaded as I gazed upon such beauty. Overcome with longing, I burst into song:

O maid of my heart, bring me wine.

I burn for the sweet kiss of wine.

The sun rises from her slumber,

But my thoughts always turn to wine.

Behold the moon, her face so bright;

In night's embrace, I dream of wine.

Do you see the stars, how they shine?

All ashes when I long for wine.

And I, the Playful Poet say:

What is the world without my wine?

The Banana Band

Bobo the monkey strode up and down his zoo cage. He paused and sniffed the air, his nostrils widening as he turned his head from side to side. His nose wrinkled as he smelled the sun-baked smell of sweaty tourists in front of his cage. The humans smelled like rotten bananas. Their ripe smell made him pinch his nose to hide the stink. He sat down on the ground and stared at the tourists.

The tourists reminded him of his fellow inmates at the zoo. Some were small like muskrats, others were tall and lanky like giraffes. One was as round and plump as a hippopotamus. They all pointed at him and chattered away like little birds. The bright lights of their camera flashes stabbed his eyes. He blinked several times and wiped his tears with the fur of his right arm.

As he sat there, he felt a boiling within himself. A mounting pressure like water in a teapot surged through him. He pulled his lips back in a snarl, revealing his yellow teeth, and glared at the crowd.

Bobo picked up a blackened banana peel next to him and flung it at a tourist. He hooted and sprang for the bars and shook them as he howled. The crowd laughed.

banana peel

thrown at tourists

monkey zeal

The Pangs Of Life

As I sat on a ledge over a cliff, I watched the sinking sun descend into the West. And a great somberness flowed over me as I saw that sinking orb flicker and then fade. The ways of the world felt like a rock in my chest as I pondered the frailty of flesh. As I sat there, my thoughts turned to these words:

The pangs of life is but the kiss of death,

One life to live before the final breath;

The sweetest song soon becomes a lament,

When cries of joy are turned into torment.

As roses bloom, so they must wither and fade,

Their pretty petals plucked, and then unmade;

The grass of spring changes to ice and snow,

As life gives way to darkness and woe.

Our life is but a spark that burns too fast,

A rising sun that must descend at last.

Who Are You?

lecture hall

the sound

of Greensleeves

Throughout life, we are pressured to succeed. It starts with our earliest memories: parents and teachers expect us to do well in school. We must pay attention in class, do our homework, and pass the tests. It is training for adulthood. When we come of age, we are no longer pleasing parents and teachers, but employers, spouses, and children. All this pressure to conform to society's rules can feel intimidating at times. How do we fit in as individuals when we are forced to think and act in a group mentality?

The answer lies within: instead of seeking reassurance from others, look inside yourself. Discover who you are, and your purpose in life. For the greatest gift in this world is not fame, or riches, or power, but mastery of yourself. When you can with certainty say who you are as a person, you are well on the way to breaking the chains that bind you. Give yourself this gift. Be the person you were meant to be.

Sweet Song

One summer night, I sat down in a meadow. I gazed up at the stars and saw them shine like diamonds in the sky. A warm wave flooded through me as I watched their splendor. Sighing, I closed my eyes and inhaled the night air. I smelled the sweet smell of roses in bloom; their perfume flooded my nostrils and sent my mind reeling in a delirium of delight. As I sat there, at peace with myself, I heard the cricket sing her song.

a cricket

chirps in the moonlight

summer nights

the bird in my breast

flutters at your voice

The Apple Of The Eye

Gather round my friends, and hear a most extraordinary tale. I was young then, a wandering minstrel eager to fire the world with my songs of love. I dreamed in those days, great dreams of adventure that would stir the souls of my listeners. And thus one day, in my journey through the forest of Norwood, I met an old ranger who told me this tale. I now tell it to you in the hopes you will have gleaned the gold within it. Listen closely...

A golden-haired elf

sits by the shores of the sea.

In his hands he holds

a silver harp.

He plucks the strings softly,

and his sapphire eyes grow dim

as he sings a song

of apple rosed Alaine,

the fairest flower of a forgotten race,

lost in the great cycles of sun and moon.

Dream And Dare

I bow my head and close my eyes

As I press my palms together;

I feel myself float in the skies,

As soft and light as a feather.

And then I know the peace of bliss,

So tender like a maiden's kiss;

My thoughts are free to fly and roam,

A world sweeter than any home.

Dreams. We all have them. In each of us, is a desire to live our lives the way we want. We yearn to see new lands, or to buy new things; to eat a fabulous feast or read a great book. And that is good. It is the way things should be. Without dreams, we are dead inside. We have nothing to live for and life seems empty and hollow. It is the driving force that gives meaning to our lives.

Never give up on your dreams. Always think of something that you should strive for. But do not make yourself unhappy by longing for it so much that you forget to live. It is the journey that is more inspiring and enlightening than the destination. The journey is what defines us; the destination is the reward for such a persistent effort. It makes us feel complete and whole.

Dare to dream. And live your life the way you choose.

Joyful Hearts

I hear the bells, how sweet they ring!

The voices of children that sing.

Their merry faces light the way,

To joyful hearts that laugh and play.

Do you feel bored with your life? That nothing is exciting or interesting to you anymore? Chances are, you are being too critical of yourself. As adults, we tend to over analyze everything. We become too judgemental and too set in our ways. Change then becomes very difficult for us.

But you can reverse this. You do not have to go through life being so close-minded. If you train yourself to look at the world through a child's eyes, you can once again unlock that creativity and energy you lost. But was it ever truly lost? No. You had it within you all this time, you just forgot how to use it.

Understand: life is never boring. It only seems that way because of our preconceived notions. If we learn to view the world with a sense of open-mindedness, by accepting people for who they are and being thoughtful and considerate to others, we can unlock a world of variety that is just waiting to be discovered. 

Do not close your mind to this. See your world through a child's eyes and take it in with a sense of wonder. Be a joyful heart.

Golden Spring

golden koi

swim in a pond

of clear water

watching them

my mind races

back to spring days

Do you see the koi swimming in the pond? How peaceful they look in the cold clear water! They spend their days eating food thrown by tourists. Life is good for the koi.

We might not be koi, but we can all improve our lives by learning to slow down. Deep reflective thinking is as important to your health as daily exercise. By pondering the things in our lives, we become more aware of them. We learn to become deep critical thinkers that observe the world around us. This benefits us, as we remove the spur of the moment decisions that lead to regrets. A calm clear head is far better than the raging storm of anger.

Learn to use your mind for reflective thinking. Take ten minutes every day to think about your life: your dreams, your past, your hopes, and fears. You can learn so much about yourself as a person by doing reflective thinking. Use this gift that you have and improve your life with it. Make every day a spring day.

The Eye Of The Beholder

Hindustan

the painted peacock

spreads his fan

Ah, the wonders of nature! It is a marvel how beautiful the world can be. Take the peacock for example: when it spreads its fan, it shows off a wonderful display of colors that dazzle the eye.

But is everything beautiful that meets our eye? Can not things be just as beautiful on the inside? While we should admire external beauty, we should not disdain beauty that comes from within. A beautiful heart is much more of a treasure than a pretty face. For it is something that is near and dear to us--that will not fade with time.

Learn to value inner beauty. Do not judge people by their appearance but rather their actions to you. Be a peacock that spreads its fan from within.

The Trials Of The Desert

desert sand

beneath my feet

burning coals

I long for a sip

of cold clear water

Life is a desert. A cruel wasteland that can suck a person dry and leave them to rot in the sun. There their bleached bones lie, a testimony to those that gave in to despair.

The desert people have a saying: respect the desert. So we must respect ourselves. Though the sands of the desert burn our feet and sap our strength, we must never lose hope. The spirit, the essence of who we are, will always be stronger than the frail flesh that we carry. Our bodies will decay and die in time, but our spirit, our will, will shine like stars in the sky. It is the guiding force in our life, and we must never allow ourselves to be broken in defeat. Hope, that great gift of humanity, is the water that we drink in the deserts of life. Drink this water deeply, that it may fill you and set your heart and mind at peace. 

Are You Sour Or Sweet?

morning

overcast

sour grapes

We all have cloudy mornings. It is simply a part of life. But some people take these foul moods to an extreme. Every day, they are bitter and hostile towards themselves and others. They are indeed "sour grapes." 

But we do not have to have these kinds of moods. There is a way to brighten up your life. How you may ask? The answer is simple: we must cultivate within ourselves a feeling of happiness. It all begins in the mind. If all we do every day is think of foul and hateful things, this attitude of ours will poison our mind, leaving us bitter and angry at ourselves and the world.

If instead, we think of peaceful and happy thoughts, we can train our minds to thrive on positivity. Behind the morning overcast, the sun will shine bright and clear. Happy thoughts lead to happy lives. If you practice this daily, you will soon discover the richness of a positive attitude.

Give yourself this gift of happiness. Think positive and be positive. And you will never be a "sour grape."

The Dark Forest

Through the dark forest, I wander alone.

My feet stumble upon a stony path.

I look around me to find my bearings,

But all I see are shadows from my past.

To live a happy life, we must be able to let go of the shadows in our past. These resentful feelings will gnaw and haunt us and set us up for future failures. They can also lead to health problems. 

Let go of your hate. No matter how bad your life was, the past will always remain the past. There is nothing you can do to change time and go back. So let these thoughts and feelings go and move on with your life. The way to happiness is always forward, never back. 

Do not wander around the dark forest in despair. There is sunlight even among the darkest of trees. Move forward towards it and you will find that the chains of conscience that held you down will be broken. Let go and be free.

The One Hour Plan

reading

a book

my mind walks

In perfecting ourselves, we should strive to maintain a sense of harmony. While the mind is an important asset, we must not forget our bodies. The body and mind are one big chain that defines who we are. We must not neglect one for the other, for they are parts that make up a greater whole. When both mind and body are developed, we experience a sense of harmony within ourselves; we realize our greatest potential.

 The following are two suggestions that can improve your mind and body. Each segment takes approximately thirty minutes. They are designed to improve your abilities in both areas. For just one hour a day, you can bring about positive changes in your life.

The first step is to improve your health. Your body is built for motion; it thrives on constant activity. So you need to exercise it. One of the simplest ways to do this is to take a daily walk for thirty minutes. Walk to work, walk on the treadmill, walk in your room back and forth. It matters not as long as you walk for thirty minutes each day. This may not seem a lot, but it is the doing that is most important. The simple tasks are the ones that we are more likely to stick with.

The second step in your one hour plan is to improve your mind. How do we do this? One of the best ways is by reading. Find a subject that interests you and read about it. I particularly encourage you to study philosophy and poetry. Why you may ask? Because they produce a higher mental strain within you. To understand them, you must put forth the proper mental effort. And it is this effort that will make you a wiser, more reflective person.

If someone were to ask me where to begin in philosophy and poetry, I would recommend the works of Plato and Alexander Pope. They are fine writers, and their writings have influenced people throughout the centuries. This philosopher and poet would make a great introduction to your mental studies.

And there you have it. For only one hour a day, you can make positive changes in your life. Follow this program every day for the rest of your life. You will be amazed by how much you will grow with the years. Like a fine wine, you will transform into a healthier and wiser person.