I'm a book
that no one wants to read.
I'm a rose
that's hidden in the weeds.
I'm a sun
that's covered by the clouds.
A diary
who's key cannot be found.

People aren't concerned,
and they think they know,
what lies beneath,
even though,
the current is swirling
and whirling away,
while the surface is smooth
on this beautiful day.

It's you against the world
And you think you're too far gone.
Lost to the point of no return,
You're barely hanging on.

There's too much pain to handle
And you'll do anything
To keep from hurting anymore
So your fighting fists keep swinging.

But there's no such thing as hopeless
You're never too lost to be found.
You don't always have to start running
As soon as your feet hit the ground.

Not everyone's out to hurt you
So let down those guarding walls.
Brick by brick, just drop them
Throw them, crush them, watch them fall.

But things cannot get better
If your feet stay on the path
That's leading you to nowhere
Except a pit of endless wrath.

So turn around right now
And give your best in all you do
Turn on the light, start doing right,
And the best will find you too.

I'm holding it together all day long,
I'm wearing a smile so it looks like I'm strong,
I'm good at pretending nothing is wrong,
I don't need anyone to help me along.
I've got all this pressure but no relief,
I'm so locked up when I want to be free,
I didn't get in a fight, and yet somehow I'm beat,
but I'll always stand tall, no need to be weak.
I'm getting quite good at being alone,
no reason to feel above or below,
no one to try to change me or control,
no one to see my highs or my lows.

I'm alright with being alone tonight,
I just need to be told it'll be alright.

We are born into the world,
and we think that it is good,
that no one would ever hurt us,
and wouldn't even if they could.

The world is full of smiles,
people long to see our face,
there's no heartbreak, tears or failure,
only hope and endless grace.

But then we see more clearly,
and some things begin to change.
Our fairytale world crumbles,
and our blue skies turn dark gray.

The smiles have all been replaced
with hatred, fights and pride.
Fingers are crossed in promises,
leaving faith and trust behind.

Hope melts away so quickly,
and our false foundation sinks.
We see things as they truly are,
or at least that's what we think.

But then we see more clearly,
past the pretend fairytale,
and the made-up horror film,
and we finally see what's real.

Nothing is all good or bad,
but if one little tiny flame,
can light a room of darkness,
then light wins, and hope remains.

Rain ruined your plans
but brought a flower to life.
The sun made you sweat
but it's giving you light.

Trees shed in your yard
but provide you with shade.
Birds ***** your car
but sing songs every day.

Good comes with bad
just as bad comes with good.
The idea of misfortune
is misunderstood.

You're missing the good things
that happen each day.
You consider them bad
But see them the wrong way.

Your perspective is
the only bad thing here.
So just flip your mind around
and change what you see and hear.

Dear future self
How are you?
Are you happy and healthy?
Do you love what you do?

Who did you marry,
if anyone at all?
How did you meet?
Who made the first call?

I hope that you haven't
lost all my friends.
And I hope you haven't
forgotten my plans.

Not plans of what to do
or where to live,
but how to be
and how to live.

I'm not too worried
about your career
or the money in your bank
But I hope your mind's clear.

I hope you still see
that who you have
is far more important
than what you have.

I hope you still see
that who you are
is far more important
than what you are.

I hope that you haven't
forgotten how to smile
and I hope you still see
that everyone is worthwhile.

I hope that your life
doesn't revolve around work
whether you're a counselor
or a grocery clerk.

I hope that your value
isn't in money from your job.
It should be placed in the things
that can't be stolen if robbed.

I hope that you're still
very good at realaxing
and I hope that your words
haven't turned into acting.

I hope you don't hurry
and rush through each day.
I hope your mind's colorful
and never just gray.

But most of all
I just hope that you
love how you're living
and love all that you do.

Do you ever feel like
life is a storm?
And you never stop seeing
those black clouds form?

The wind is blowing
you all around,
you can't find peace
or solid ground.

But you don't have to
get swept away
by the storms that
try to take you today.

Calmness surrounded
by chaos exists.
The eye of the storm
is where this peace lives.

You can't stop the storm,
so why even try?
But you can always find peace
if you stay in the eye.

So let the storm surround you,
let it try to steal your peace.
But in the eye standing strong and still
you cannot be reached.