Today Only

TODAY ONLY

What if I told you that tomorrow I may not love you?
Would you still enjoy my company tonight?
Tomorrow I may not be beautiful, or gracious, or coy.....
Would you still be with me today?

Could you possibly appreciate me without the vision
Of a future together -
Without counting on me to supply you
With what you need?

Could you, in this moment,
Revel in my smile?
Feel the comfort of my warmth,
And not count on me
To fulfill anything for you tomorrow?

How difficult is it
For you to live in this moment?
To suspend all expectations
And just rest in this experience?

How easy is it
To only think that in this instance
LIFE IS GOOD
I AM HAPPY
and TO HELL with
What the next moment may contain?

If you can be with me now,
Sit with me,
Laugh with me,
Let your heart sing with me,
And not judge, expect, or project
Onto me....
Your company is welcome...
I'll even save you a seat.

I Declare this to be a SUNDRESS SUMMER!

I declare this to be a SUNDRESS SUMMER!
Nothing but sundresses in this South Florida heat. Flowing around my knees with the breeze blowing across my thighs. Swaying around me as I casually walk in my flip flops, toes painted bright red, no wait, purple. It’s a purple-toe summer for me this year. Hair flying free in the breeze, whipping my face with sharp strands. So tired of being constrained in clothes that stick to me, confining me to conform to their shapes. No, this summer is the free flow of sundress, spaghetti straps, no, even better, angel hair skinny straps across my shoulders down my back. My stride is a swaying dance, stepping to a beat in my head, pounding me like the heat waves rising from the pavement, urging me to hurry. But I don’t. I relish in the outdoor oven, sweat droplets running down my chest, sunglasses like night vision goggles, enabling me to endure the glare. I smell sweet magnolias and the ocean breeze, luring me to hop-skip the lava sand and rush to the cooling waters of mother ocean. I stand there, gazing at my purple toes, watching the hem of my sundress absorb the salt water as it swirls around my legs. I look up as a sea gull flies overhead, screeching at me, as if to say, “God Save the Summer Sundress!”

The Honor of Friendship

It's not even Noon yet, and I've already experienced many facets of friendship. A childhood friend reminded me that although much time as passed, we are all still the same. A college friend is supporting my dreams and reminiscing of our crazy adventures. A Facebook friend, who I haven't yet met personally, encouraged me. A best friend left to pursue his passion and I wished him well. A new friend professed his love for me...not sure about that one. A previous friend came back into my life. And, a close friend gave me the honor of being there for her as her father passed.

I am indeed, living a fulfilling life.

What more will this day bring to me?

TAKE THE STAGE - ENCORE! ENCORE!

Today this excerpt from MacBeth (William Shakespeare) will not leave my head:

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

It reminds me that we have a choice. We can go through life, day by day, existing, not contributing, just surviving. Until, finally, our time is up.

Exit stage right.

So many people are doing this around us.
The WALKING DEAD.
Letting life HAPPEN TO THEM.
Not INTENTIONALLY CREATING IT.

The real SECRET to THE SECRET
Is that we can change anything about our lives.
But it does take:
Decision Making
Focus
Passion
Perseverance
Faith
and, yes ACTION.

Do what feels right. But not to the detriment of others.
Live your life.
Pursue your passion.
Open your heart.
Let nothing stop your contribution.

We all want to see your time on the stage. We want you to WOW us, entertain us, make us laugh, let us cry in your pain. SHARE YOU with us.

Don't hide.
Get up there on life's stage and STRUT!

More than an hour, a lifetime.
And we will hear MORE from you.
And you will signify SOMETHING.

The authentic you.
The curtain is about to open.

It's time for you to take stage.
We're waiting.
And we want you to succeed.

Endless Conversing

Your friendship has become
Salve to soothe my troubled soul.
Who would have known
You were out there, knowing me
And I knowing you, although
We only now just met?
My mind and heart
Run rampant with things to say
To inform you of all details of life
And yet words mean nothing.
My soul talks to yours
In language all its own
Words are only punctuation
To endless conversing.

Fell from my Own Grace

I irresponsibly fell from my own grace.

The pedestal I constructed for myself

Lost its stability and I came tumbling

To the hard earth.

Setting unattainable standards

For myself and others

Yet always having hope

That neither of us will falter.

What is it within me

That strives to succeed, and then

Pushes the finish line further away

Just as my proud heart nears it?

Perhaps it’s the internal drive

To pursue, to challenge, to dream, and

Of never wanting to be someone

Who did not live up to their potential.

Stamping an Invisible Impression

I awoke from my dream state, bewildered.
Wasn't I just in another world?
Seeming so real, I stumbled back to reality.
Weren't you beside me, whispering in my ear?
What was it you said?
I only remember smiling,
Glad to have you by my side.
The wisdom of your words
Penetrating my mind and heart
It all made sense then, but now escapes me.
In the twilight of my dreams
Lies the altered world of possibilities
Where anything can happen -
Stamping an invisible impression on my soul.