Come the crunch and crumble
when life is a crazy tumble of events
each one spilling down upon the heart
a flood of cacophony, acrimony
until it feels like nothing will be solved
and the only time the sun shines
is to show all the destruction money misspent.
Tests of spirit, trials of human worth
makes it feel no matter how dark it can get,
it can only get worse. Been my experience,
crazy as it seems that this is the best time
to smile and enjoy every little thing you see.
Out of all this upset and turmoil better to find
a way to create a new start then trying to save
everything. Focus on the way you want to be
rather than the things that come and go
with all the changes that life brings.
Anyone can fall down and swear they can’t get up.
Takes a winner to say I am going have fun
learning to walk. Lose your memory in an accident,
swear you want to experience amnesia and enjoy
every moment it takes getting it back cause you will
never get the chance again in this life time. On welfare
and can’t make rent? Well be thankful for every little
thing that you can do and enjoy it as a gift. For me,
a friend showed up and felt he owed me more than he
could repay and gave me money to assuage his feelings.
I know how to sing the blues. This is not to compare
whose got more hurt cause the one counting always wins.
No, I just have learned that whether up or down what counts
is how you enjoy the life you got and the friends
who stick around. One path blocked another found.
Just keep learning and do what’s right, soon enough
things will go from dark to bright. Become aware
there is an inner Light and allow yourself to stand
in the glow it gives and watch as your efforts reap
the things you always wanted your soul to keep.
4:05 PM
1/29/09
Alexandria, VA
Author notes
"Ode to Happiness" This would look silly center aligned 
Always found happiness is and on and off thing. Joy is created by being occupied in doing what you love. I have learned, too many close calls, that living is something I love. 
A contest entry
- Encouragement at its best!!!!! by untouched pages.
800 points, ended February 5, 2009, 12 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think, what it makes you feel, how you are moved.
Comments
1 - 32 of 32
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This reminded me that eveyday is to be thankful for...because no two days are the same, and if am up one day I might be down the next...but I know to look up....cause you can't keep a man down that wants to live....God bless....today was a good day..............
novy
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There is always things to be thankful for. There is a great deal of power in thankfulness. Most people see power as power over something. But there is a personal power that sets you free of the negative and the oppressive that is found in blessings, thankfulness and an appreciation of the true value of things about you and celebrating it at every opportunity. You learn to not take the world personally because the world could careless about you, it is too busy worlding.
Love, Tom B.
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Hmmmmmm. . .
I need to read it again.
The message is there, and reads loud and clear, but something is a bit askew. I really love the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stanzas. I confess I got lost in the last two, to be honest. I felt like I was being told what my friend always says when I complain. . about any given subject, it could always be worse.
That statement is very true, but when the person Im telling my problems to tells me this, and they've not been in my shoes, then I feel as if my feelings are being trivialized.
That's not to say I usually complain to anyone. I ingest it, because we all have problems, and I learned a long time ago that it could always be worse. the effect it has is to not say another thing about it to her ever, OR get angry with her because she just "doesn't understand."
And what does she know about my life anyway?
I know that's silly, but I defy anyone to tell me they've never felt that way about a friend or confidant of theirs.
Sometimes the answer to a person who reaches out is to accept their trust, and not say anything, or say you understand. That's it.
And to keep on keeping on, being the light you've always been. Shine the light you have inside of you. The light you're comfortable in, because it's you.
And being around that light should be encouragement enough.
But then, what do I know? Im the only one out of everyone else that had this to say, so it's probably just me.
Love always to you and yours,
jin
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First, my experience is that wisdom and understanding come from how well I can translate my experience so you can gain from it and use it to help me emphasize with yours. I was not attempting to trivialize any ones situation as much as say it all is a matter of how you look at it. Perspective and paradigmn. I learned after getting over a High Anxiety Disorder that there was an entire realm of possibilities I couldn't see when I was infested with anxiety.
Second, no way in hell that my little bit of insight is going to provide a light for everyone. I am no saint. But, the last verse is trying to show that while happiness comes and goes, joy is created and experience by how much we do what we love and share what we love. Regardless of the outcome.
You and I, at least from where I stand, get along because we share a number of things in common, are honest with each other, and are just enough unlike to be able to disagree without being negative about it. Provides greater illumination, at least for me. People talk about my inner Light. It ain't no better or worse than anyone elses. I have learned in my process to be thank ful and loving for it creates the largest amount of good. What else can I say?
Thanks for stopping by You know it always lifts my spirits to hear from you. 
Love, Tom B. -
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Trivialize. I know you're not. I derive inspiration from the simply you that you are. I look up to you. Many people do.
When people have been lost their entire lives, the SMALLEST act of kindness can mean the MOST, have the BIGGEST IMPACT on a person's life. You cannot be that light for everyone, only grateful for the lives you are able to touch.
And you dont have to do anything more than be you. How MANY lost souls have you touched with that "light" Tom?
Life does ebb and flow, as does everything else.
Regardles of the outcome, absolutely.
BTW-SAINTS were PEOPLE ONCE TOO.
SIMPLE people that simply lived their lives to serve their higher power, the best way they knew how, with their entire beings. Their higher power showed His face in their entire lives.
That's not to say I have your name sent in to the vatican, and am hving you cannonized after you die. YOU DIDNT ASK to have that light, and you might not be aware how potent it can be.
That's all Im saying, nothing more, or less.
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You know, I would love to see what others see, but that is not to be. I figure I am a sick puppy working to get well and using everything I have learned in the process. I have noticed that I make a difference in other people's lives but it never happens on purpose but out of just being who I am and my commitment to being a caring and thoughtful human being.
I never wanted to treat people badly. I hate things that denigrate others so a lot of what people find funny I don't. I often think the laughter is relief that it isn't happening to them. I am, like many, my own worse judge and I may never live up to who I think I should be. I have learned that life is lived one step at a time. You can't get to the end of the hall by wishing only by making steps. When I was learning to walk after my motorcycle accident I conquered a set of stairs. When I got to the top I realized that all that sweat and work meant nothing more than I was ready to take the next step and the one after that. It gave me a good laugh.
I don't talk about how many times I have come to close to dieing, It sounds like I am bragging. I tend to agree with those who say God has something planned for me to do while I am here. Until I am told, I will just go on helping each vital vibrant person I know to love themselves a little better and help them realize the world really wants to share the joy they bring into the world by being here with them.
Love, Tom B.
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Living is somehting you love...Don't I know it...You are one that surely lives by that motto....You seem to never get down for long ...You inspire me, make me sigh and smile all at once not just with this write but in life in general...You are someone to look up to, Bro
TY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
humbly, your Sis
Lynda
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Well, I wrecked my car last Tuesday. I was on a sales appt. and coming home in freezing rain when I lost visibilty and wound up hitting a divide between the road and an exit ramp. Hit it dead center with the front of my car. Fortuanately I was doing only forty. The air bags and my seat belt kept me from getting hurt.
It sucked. But life doesn't. I don't know how I am going to buy a new one, but I will find a way. My wife is freaking out and I understand. I wish I could help her but she loves me and prays alot. I am glad I inspire you. Really. I do what I can when life is about handling imperfection, with a sense of gratitude..
Love,
Tom B.
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i'm keeping this. forever. to read when i am down. hope you don't mind.
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Read it to your hearts content. I promise I will take it as a compliment.
Love, Tom B.
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this was absolutely beautiful! as i read, i thought the third stanza would be my favorite. then i read the fourth and fifth, and realized i loved the whole thing. so beautiful. so..... sweet and full of good advice. just screw the world and be happy.... i liked the line about comparing hurt and the one who counts always wins. ha. true
this was just beautiful. loved the part about amnesia.... this was great. probably my favorite of yours.
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Amongst my many accidents, I hit a car with a motorcycle, at 19, doing about seventy. I shouldn't be here. I woke up after coming to with general and continuous amnesia. Had to verify my name with a nurse. I did tell myself it was going to be the neatest trip of my life cause I had always wanted to know what it was like and I was going to remember everything about it. Learning to walk, getting my memory back was a great adventure. The most important thing during this was my friends. Real friends keep you sane when the rest of the world is trying to drive you crazy.
Love, Tom B.
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TRUTH IS THE BEST ENCOURAGEMENT
And what your truth is may not be anothers.... -
I think you have always been happy
Beacause it seems you make yourself above all, FIRST NOT LAST.
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I don't know, I hold the door for everybody I do. I tend to think life is about sharing. Dancing with the wind and waltzing with the sea. Letting ones thankfulness lift you when everything else would pull you down. It took me a lot of learning and healing.
Love, Tom B.
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This is almost poetic prose from you with a strong message, find your own happiness within yourself in order to make others happy too. C
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When you are sharing with others what makes them so special and investing yourself in what turns you on creativily then joy seems to be a constant part of life. When you invest in others as the resource of your happiness instead of a partner in learning to create joy when you are together than you probably are going to be very disappointed. But you know me, I just open up my heart and worry about the sun shining bright enough.
Love, Tom B.
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I really like this. I may be young, but I've learned that this is very true. I had an ... interesting day today and this made it so much better. Thanks!
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If my silly words made your day better than I am blessed.
Love,
Tom B.
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Yes indeed... words of wisdom my friend! I have also learned this albeit the hard way~
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What we truly learn is always the hard way: On our own. Wisdom shows up in how well we share what we have learned from our experience with others.
Thankfulness is a gift. It is one we give ourselves as well as those we share it with.
Love, Tom B.
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Oh, Tomis... this is wisdom and might. You underestimate your talent. This message is a gift of living that says, "God, thank you for what I have!" And it comes back to bless you again and again.
I needed a swift kickstart this afternoon. I think I just got it.
Karen
Oh, yeah... did I tell you how glad I am for your smiling heart? Thank you.
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You know, I think this is too preachy. I am so far from perfect and my wisdoms are of a very small variety. Life is about sharing and I tried my best to share my mite with the world. Most things worth haveing don't show up until you share them. I know we get side tracked with paying bills and haveing the job to pay them with and being happy and making others be happy and value us etc. etc. But in the end, we make a difference by how much we share. The rest is just judgements that are as changable as the wind.
Love, Tom B.
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Gosh this sounds like what I just posted;
but in a little different style...
also like one I wrote years ago and posted at another site...
anyways thanks for the read...yes it makes sence to me.
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Yes, I was surprised by the similarities. Must be the Lord's message of the day.
Love, Tom B.
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Happiness isn't a destination it is a process... one that requires you to be aware of all those smiles along the way. Happiness is like a cat, if you chase, it will run and the harder you chase the less happy you will be if you think you can grab it... Better to enjoy the kitty for being a kitty and not as a possession... [ok, so I'm in abstract mode...lol!!!]
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Like the simile and agree one hundred percent. Joy is the dynamic energy of love and exists while you are giving your love and sharing yourself. If we ever got together in person it could get vvery abstract all too quickly.
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if happiness was a constant state then we would never learn to appreciate it this is not what i woul dnormaly expect of you, a totaly diferent style as though it were someone leses words typed, it is good but not one of your best, i hope you dont mind me saying, the content is great but i KNOW that you could do more with this
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This is not stuff I normally do. It feels awkard as hell. I bet if I kept it up I might get good at it. Probably have to change it all around. Like the opening verse best, too preachy for me. Hate that. Wanted to enter this contest and the challenge seemed like a good thing to take on.
Love, Tom B.
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lOL ok ok ...this is growing on me.... I like it alot better the second... third.. oh yah it was the 4th time around
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Anything you can read more than once and get more from is doing something worth repeating. Thanks.
Love,
Tom B.
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I really liked this.. BUT i don't think you read all the rules.... yours missing something in your AN..I liked the read but I get lost in reads that are too long.. I found it to be more of a story.. BUt it's a good write tho... Please re-read the AN's again!!!!
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