Inspiration

Sometimes, it's hard
to come by
Or maybe it wormholes
it's way to you
just at the right time
it's needed.
You may think
there's nothing there--
but cloaked,
overseeing your every
move,
it waits to be invited,
to be coaxed
with a welcoming gesture
shyly accepting your
nod, smile, comment.
We've opened a big door
this year, 2012--
us human creatures
of habit
who eschew change
are being tested
for our flexible,
accommodating attitudes.
Or kicking and screaming,
we dig in our heels
for the fight of
our life, rutted as it
may be, yet somehow
disdainly comforting
in a sense--
the sameness--
but not quit right either.
We know there's
something missing.
Should we dare to
open the door to
try and find out
what it is?
Or coast off the
lemmings cliff with
all the other sheeple?
We're orchestrating
this trip together
by our daily
individual choices.
We may make
course corrections,
but one thing's
for sure--
we're not
staying the same--
we're being pushed to grow--
grow up!
as responsible humans.
I guess yielding
to some original,
inspired thought
along the way
when it comes
couldn't be
an all bad thing?


Copyright © 2012 Gary Frates

It's all up to me--I am responsible

Hmmm...
Can I TRUST myself??
I know I get stressed
and act out of that
condition oftentimes.
If I feel a strong urge
to do something yet
hesitation leaps out
and says
"Don't be foolish"
or some sort of thing...
To trust without regret
in retrospect, is a big
responsibility in my eyes.
I DO allow for mistakes
at least I give lip service
to that stance in
learning situations
with others--you'd think
I could cut MYSELF the same
amount of slack. Widen my
margin of error--EXPECT
to have some misses.
I want clean-cut decisions.
I wince at MOVING FORWARD
in ambiguity. Basically, it
requires I trust myself
to know what's good for me
even if it's a "painful"
lesson of learning. If I
learn it well, it's most
certainly worth it--at least
in my eyes. If not--
oh heaven help me
to have to go through
that again--
I do the best I can.
But in the end,
it's all up to me.
I get to live with
and learn from
my decisions--
I'm still at the wheel
of my life.
I still get to call
all the shots
whether it seems like it
or not.
And when I miss--Hmmm...
"How'd that happen--I was
aiming right at the target.
And I missed!--I got an
unpleasant situation
when I was aiming
for fulfillment!"
It's all for the cause
of sharpening up
the truster
and learning lessons
and accepting mistakes
as a part of life
and getting better.
Some lessons are harder
to learn than others...



Copyright © 2012 by Gary Frates

Doing What Makes Me Happy

That's a tough
standard
to hold myself
to everyday
but I do the best
I can
side-stepping,
leaping,
bowling over
fears
that appear
unbeckoned.
I would like
to be struck
with such
river-altering
power
as to put
me on
a path
I am
happy with
instead of
patching up
the path
I am now on--
making
the MOST
of a living
I already have.
Strike me up
power within
to a life
of service
to the
highest power
that is!



Copyright © 2012 by Gary Frates

Inside of a Day

Inside of a day
I could do a whole lot
OR I could rejuvenate
my being.
Without a lesson
to learn
my days are aimless
so I give gratitude
for the "free" lessons
of life--no tuition,
registration, grades.
I just get to keep
what I get in lessons
learned or try again
tomorrow.
Inside of a day is
the best place to be
to accomplish your
goals,
your dreams.
You get first and final
say on how you want
to live your life--
no boss to tell you
what to do--you call
the shots and take
the results of
your actions.
Inside of a day.


Copyright © 2012 by Gary Frates

50 more of life's lessons

50 more lessons

51. I've learned 99% of how to live a successful, happy life.
What's left is to apply it.

52. Uphill is fun and makes you strong.
Downhill is for smelling the roses.

53. Ask a potential friend out.
He'll never know you had him in mind
unless you ask...

54. Life's education comes after hours mostly.

55. What keeps you from offering your 'better mousetrap'
to the world?

56. I like walking.
Up, down, level, short, long, fast, slow.
Going out is more fun than returning.

57. Armchair adventurers are a virtual fantasy at best.

58. Why do we put limits on our goals?
They only tell us we can stop because we're done.
Being done is a myth.
We're only at a certain point on our journey.

59. Rules are for those that sleepwalk through life.

60. I was once a kid in a kids' body.
I'm still a kid, mostly
despite conditioning to the contrary.

Bleary-eyed, I write

Too tired to sleep
too sleepy to write,
I proceed.
We think we're done
but we're
just pausing--
getting past
what separates us
from the greatness
inside.
I open my eyes,
my mind,
to the light
streaming
through both--
the currency
the elixer
the soother
of sorrows
sending me
love, energy, wisdom
at the
exact moment
it's needed.
Ah! such is
the flow of life
supporting
my next footfall
with a bit of
solid earth
underneath.


©2012 Gary Frates

Next, Please.

In this pivotal day,
year, century--
We stop.
Rethinking old
outworn habits
of servitude
and obligation--
rather
enjoying
each intrinsic,
moment of
built-in rewards
seamlessly
propelling us along
an easy path
of evolution
and fulfillment
at being our 
simple and
unpretentious
selves
every moment
of every day.


©2012 Gary Frates

Enlightenment--As I shine, the world shines

The black hole
portal
I enter into
twice each day
called meditation
grants a glowing,
energetic, guidance
throughout my life.
Upon re-emergence
into physical reality,
a joy and calmness,
peace and tranquility,
and positive frame of mind
are now mine.
Unruffled by the wailings
of humanity's
questionable fears and
substanceless imaginings,
I stand strengthened,
"shields up"
mostly impervious
to the stresses
of the world.
In any event,
fully recovered
after the next sitting
with eyes closed,
feet planted and
body relaxed of
peaceful, deep
and restful,
meditation.

©2012 Gary Frates

Planet Earth: Now Boarding

Should I or shouldn't I?
Those words
along with the word can't
"should" be stricken
from the dictionary!
Rules are for mindless
numbed out, unfeeling
I don't want to get too
harsh here but you get
my drift, I think.
Would you intentionally
cause youself pain?
Probably not.
Then why do we,
all of us, do what we do
if pain and suffering
are the inevitable result?
Sort of a live now, pay
later philosophy.
Of course, you could
always choose to not
live.
What price would that
exact, I wonder,
in comparison?

The eternal dilemma:
when to hold 'em
and when to fold'em?
The only rules I follow
are, or "should" be,
the rules of the heart.
Did I sign up for all this
when I came on board?

©2012 Gary Frates

Directionality

I'm off!
To where?
Don't know.
But it's the beginning
of the year 1-1-12
and I'm off in a blaze
(of glory-hopefully:)
accomplishing
big things!
Which direction
are you headed?
Direction?
Just forward--doing
the next thing
accomplishing stuff,
being productive.

Just going forward? To where?

Not exactly sure, really.
Making a living.

Do you have a life purpose?
A what?
A mission in life?
Something you're
passionate about?
Not exactly.
Should I?
Wouldn't hurt.
Can't get up tomorrow
without a life purpose
(written down)
or you might as well
go back to bed
until you can
come up with one.
OK.
Thanks.
That helps a lot.


©2012 Gary Frates