Sometimes, Life Moves Forward on Slippery Slopes

To make a committed,
"scary" decision
the voices in our heads/hearts
are at odds:
to kick back
or venture forward.
There's no denying the fear
even if it's not "real"--
we still FEEL it.
I argue: "I don't want to do this.."
(liar, liar pants on fire)
OK. I DO want to do this
but it's SCARY!

How can I
go forward in comfort,
reassured that I'm making
the "right" decision?
Hmm...sometimes,
most times maybe,
I have to go forward
without that reassurance
that I "know" what I'm doing.
Go forward
WITH the fear.

Which still feels
like a risk to me..

but almost always
everything turns out
just fine.

I am rewarded
for trusting myself--
for learning  how
each time I make
a"scary" decision,

I'm better able
to rely on myself
to trust myself
all the while
weeding out
all that fear
in the process.


© 2011 Gary Frates

Bare Bones

Skinny and wiry,
the tree standing before me
is leafless.
Not a single leaf to be found
on its otherwise healthy "body".
Now, I KNOW the leaves
are coming back!!!
Although, even if I wanted to,
and tried with all my might,
I couldn't MAKE a single 
leaf appear on my little tree
before its time--such is the
power of nature. Even if I could
fool her (it's not nice to..)
the futility of trying to is
very obvious and apparent to me.
So I accept what is
and accept the barren, bold
brazen, stark outline
of my little, now just sticks,
nakedness of a tree.
It is being just
as its supposed to be
at this time of the year--
not embarrassed at being
exposed--not even once
lamenting its leafless reality.


© 2011 Gary Frates