How much weight can you carry
Before you collapse
Or sink to the bottom
Or crumble down fast?

It’s raining boulders
And you’re catching them all
With worries heavier than stone
It won’t take much to fall

You’re at your breaking point
But don’t let yourself break
See it as a turning point
And refuse to hold the weight

Just let it go
Put it down
Watch it fall
Pour it out

Do what you can
And then worry no more
Catch what you can
Let the rest hit the floor

Find your limit
And end it there
Drop your pile of boulders
You deserve the fresh air

His hands are ice,
Sharp like broken glass,
But he says, "Come here,
The cold won't last."

So you hand him your heart,
With a smile on your face,
His hands are ice cold,
But your heart is in flames.

He says, "Trust me,
You'll melt me to a puddle,
Fire and ice,
We'll make such a nice couple."

So you give him your all,
With a smile on your face,
And you fall and you fall,
Toward your icy embrace.

He squeezes his hands,
With your heart inside,
He didn't melt, put your flames out,
But you smile and say everything's fine.

Then you say, "That's okay,
My flame comes from within.
I'll take my frozen broken pieces,
Reconstruct and shine again."

We give thanks to the managers,
the presidents and CEOs.
We give thanks to the owners,
the govenors and heroes.

We give thanks to the leaders,
for all that they do.
We give thanks to the mayors,
and the supervisors too.

We see what they do,
and give thanks every day.
For roles so important,
don't they deserve all the praise?

But what about the one
who cleans up the mess,
that you didn't even consider
picking up when you left?

And what about the one
who holds open the door,
for ten hours each day
all while being ignored?

And what about the one
who drives you around?
In a car all day driving
rushed and rude people to town.

We admire the collage,
and we thank the artist too.
But do we ever take the time
to stop and thank the glue?

What would hold it together
if it were not there?
Who would pick up after you,
or drive you from here to there?

All the people in charge
may create a masterpiece,
but without the glue to hold it,
it would all just fall to pieces.

I'm a little tree
With roots deep down
Not much on the surface
Mostly hidden underground

I'm not the most beautiful
And my fruits aren't the best
But my roots are much deeper
Than you ever would have guessed

A trees real strength
Is hidden in its roots
You can't survive a storm
Just by bearing the most fruit

I seem weak but I'm strong
I look plain but I'm deep
You can't tell who I am
Just by looking at me

Don't have many leaves
Can't provide much shade
But when the storms try to take me
I won't be afraid

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.

I'm a little too
Excitable
Or at least
That's what I'm told
Too positive
With my glass half full
Too happy, too many
Smiles, I know

I'm too naive
Too blind, unaware
To know what
Life's about
I'm too busy
Floating on air
To remember
The pain of the ground

You think I don't know
The pressure and strain
Of the final string
Of a splitting rope?
I've ripped, I've snapped
I have no less pain
But one thing I do have
Is hope

Well my glass isn't half full
Its overflowing
My rose colored glasses
Don't leave my eyes
I am not too much
Of anything
Except too good
At finding where hope hides

I may not be noticed,
seen or searched for.
I am overlooked
but no less valuable.
People walk all over the ground
without realizing
diamonds are right under their feet.

Once upon a time
You found joy in simple things
It was a jar of baby carrots
Now it's two carat diamond rings

Once upon a time
Every ounce of you was hope
You always prepared for the best
Now you prepare yourself to cope

Once upon a time
That smile didn't leave your face
Now when you feel it on your lips
You press it down until it's straight

Childhood you
Was a bit naive
But now that you're grown up
You've lost the courage to believe

It's easy to be cynical
Bad things are all over, after all
We're all business, things hardly impress us
But maybe that's our downfall

So think like you did once upon a time
And don't worry about being understood
Look around, lift your eyes off the ground
And find joy in anything good

Go ahead and stay hopeful
Being let down sometimes
Is better than being hopeless
And staying down at all times

Childhood you
Was a bit naive
Or perhaps more in-tune
With what happiness means

We're living in the actor's age,
the world now serves as one big stage,
people are born, no longer need training,
to change who they are, to perfect entertaining.

The very center of the stage,
tends to act more as their cage.
They're born being told the way to success,
is to act like a character, and hope to impress,
to turn into who others want them to be;
to follow the current of the sea.

They're confined to a cage, yet they've lost themselves,
hope to find what they've lost on the costume shelves.
The spotlight blinds them, stops them from seeing,
who they should be and who they are being.

I am content in the front row,
it's easier to see my glow,
if there's no spotlight, mocking mine,
and dimming my all natural shine.

The front row let's me see what's around,
it's hard to feel lost, when I've already found,
out who i am so long ago,
I stay myself, even though,
those around me tend to change,
with the seasons, rearrange,
who they are and want to be;
to follow the current of the sea.

Not trapped in the cage, I have plenty of room,
to be who I am, and to fully bloom,
into who I am truly meant to be;
the one who strays from the current of the sea.

We wake up and plan
to smile at strangers,
and hold the door open,
and say no to anger.

But then there's traffic,
and road rage and red lights,
and cut-offs and cuss-outs,
daydreaming of fights.

Our destination is reached,
and our hands are in fists,
we stomp down the halls,
and crash by accident.

Coffee spills, papers scatter,
faces red, eye contact made,
thoughts are racing, anger raising,
a small flame ignites great hate.

We watch the scene
play in our head,
like directing a movie
and take one is red.

It's yelling and screaming,
insulting and punching,
automatic desire,
but solving nothing.

Aren't we lucky
we aren't bound by our thoughts?
We might be tempted,
but slaves we are not.

Aren't we lucky
if take one leads to
mistakes or trouble
we can choose a take two?

Together we shine like a star,
here I am and here you are.

Disregarding friend or foe,
here I am and there you go.

Fake a laugh, buy words to say,
there you are and here I'll stay.

Hide your flaws so they can't see,
there you'll stay and here I'll be.

You fit the mold, I'm like a stone,
Shining brightly on my own.

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.

He asked how life was going,
I said, "I couldn't ask for more.
I love my job, my friends and family,
Always smiling, how about yours?"
He said, "Well, I got fired,
I guess I'm always late.
And my wife just left me stranded,
When she caught me on a date."

And as we sat there reflecting,
On how things have become,
He looked at me and stated,
"You sure have some good luck."
And at first, yes, I agreed.
"Yeah, good luck, I'm sure that's it.
But wait, isn't luck,
Just an outcome brought by chance?"

And if it's all up to luck,
Why bother working hard,
To finish all your goals?
In fact, why even start?
When it comes to all my "luck,"
Oh, it is no accident.
Every single move I make,
Is done with intent.

I am living on purpose,
I am acting with cause,
All the good things that happen,
Only happen because,
My decisions are precise,
And they all insist,
On bringing me nothing,
But complete happiness.

Life doesn't have to be,
"Take what you get."
Decide what you want,
And go running after it

It's hard to accept
and harder to admit
but I do a lot of things
that don't make sense.

I'm often asked why
because people don't get it.
But there's not much to get,
it's just how I like to live it.

I take the long way home
just to see the view,
I waste gas and drive for hours
just to feel brand new.

I'll drive two miles more
and pass three stores on the way
because the fourth one is my favorite
and those people make my day.

I spend money and time
on what most people avoid,
but I do things however
they can be most enjoyed.

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.

You are always in a rush,
So much to do, no time to waste,
You won't slow down and relax,
You're living in the left hand lane.

You finished off your to-do list,
You only hear the clock's ticking,
So you make another one,
No time to see what you are missing.

Living in the left hand lane,
You miss the calmness of the sea,
You don't know when the flowers bloom,
No time to feel the gentle breeze.

Living in the left hand lane,
Can't see clouds float across the sky,
You miss the beauty of fall leaves,
And the power of looking in peoples eyes.

Living in the left hand lane,
And asking how time's flying by.
Did you forget it's up to you?
Just slow down and move to the right.

One day you'll be together,
one day you'll feel alone,
one day you'll step outside your door
and smile on your own.

One day you'll fall in love,
one day you'll fall in hate,
one day you'll step outside your door
and go on your next date.

One day your world will turn,
one day it stops and then,
one day you'll step outside your door
and see it spin again.

As I grow up
My world grows out
And I realize that it's bigger
Than my house and hometown.
Along with my state
And my country too,
And I can see it all
If I want to.

As I learn more
I realize
That a million facts
Can't make me wise.
Yet there's so much to know
About all that exists,
And all that can stop me
Are my own limits.

As I do more
I understand
That I can do anything
Small or grand.
It's all possible,
Whether hard or easy
Whatever I do
Is up to me.

There are endless things
to learn, do and see
So pick out your favorites
And chase them passionately.

The number of bills,
that you have in your bank,
won't change how happy you are.
The gifts that you buy,
for the people you've hurt,
won't lessen the size of the scar.

The speed of your car,
is not fast enough,
to give you an early start.
The size of your wallet,
is not big enough,
to fill up your empty heart.

These physical things,
may seem to fulfill;
when really they're only a lie.
You can purchase,
anything you'd like;
happiness, you cannot buy.

Extra! Extra!
This just in:
Hatefulness
Is the new trend.

Forget tolerance
Empathy and being kind,
Why burden ourselves
With an open mind?

So we keep our minds closed,
But we open our mouths,
Speaking of things
We know nothing about.

We're shouting hot air
With no substance to fill it.
We spread hate but preach love
Then point out hypocrites.

We blame everyone else
And claim innocence although
We're building walls
With the stones we throw.

We're so advanced
But so behind,
We've got 20/20
But we act like we're blind.

People always ask me
Why I'm always so happy
Well my answer is
That someone's gotta be

Who else can I count on
When I need motivation
Or cheered up or calmed down
Or to ease my frustration?

People always ask me
Why I care so much
Well my answer is
No one else cares enough

Who else can I count on
To care about my day
Or to absorb my feelings
Or hear what I have to say?

Other's aren't concerned
And they don't need to be
No one can do it better
So I'll care about me.

You're all you need
And you are enough
You're all you're promised
And you're all you've got

People come and go
So stop depending
And take time to create
Your own happy ending.

How much can you pile
on a paper plate
before it bends and bends
and finally breaks?

But the question is
what is to blame?
Is the plate too weak
or holding too much weight?

Glass and plastic can break too
if they're carrying bricks.
So before you choose your helping
find your strength and then pick.

So ready for love, is it ready for me?
I keep my eyes open, but all I can see ,
are people walking around in pairs,
opening doors and pulling out chairs.

I see the way he looks in her eyes,
both feel like they're soaring through the skies,
my reaction is an envious stare,
as he opens her door and pulls out her chair.

I patiently wait until I can find ,
the person still unknown in my mind ,
who is looking for more than a hidden affair;
who will open my door and pull out my chair.

I feel lost in this paired up world,
everyone has their fingers curled ,
around another person's hand,
as if it were perfectly planned,
to leave me standing on my own,
left to pull out my chair alone.

So ready for love, is it ready for me?
is there a secret that I can't see?
While all may seem wrong I won't fall in despair;
I will open my door and pull out my chair.

Fall is any photographer's dream.
They capture the colors, the morning steam.
They watch rainbows move into a tree,
They observe things no others can see.
They open their eyes and see heaven on earth,
They consider fall the season of birth.

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.

A man stands on the side of the road,
a cardboard sign, alone.
A woman starves to feed her son,
who's there to help? No one.

A broken world so full of pain,
you close your windows and the shades,
so you don't see, but you hope for
someone to find them all before,
it is too late to save their lives.
With some help, they can survive.

But why not now? What's stopping you?
'Cause if you don't, who's going to?

A man stands on the side of the road,
you gave some change, but he's still alone.
A woman starves to feed her son,
you gave her food, but only once.

A broken world so full of pain,
you close your windows, and the shades.
Sometimes you peek, and hope that more,
people help them all before,
it is too late to save their lives.
Just like you did, so they'll survive.

Why not give more? What's stopping you?
'Cause if you don't, who's going to?

A man stands, no longer alone,
money in his wallet, he's home.
A woman's fed, so is her boy,
three meals each day, she's now employed.

A broken world so full of pain,
you open your windows and the shades,
so you can see, and now you are
the one that helped them all before,
it was too late to save their lives.
Because of you, they will survive.

Reach out to more, what's stopping you?
'Cause if you don't, who's going to?

You're like the creek in my back yard,
you come and go without regard.
When winter comes, you turn to ice,
you're staying strong; you're playing nice.

A sheet of ice; you entertain,
all winter long, you don't complain.
Although I may not not really be
in need of you, you're there for me.

When the hot summer months arrive,
I need your water to survive.
In winter months, you're always here,
but in the summer, nowhere near.

When I don't need you, you're around,
when times get tough you dry the ground.
You leave me thirsty when I need
you to help me, and not mislead.

When you long for someone to glide,
upon your glassy ice, or slide
around, think of the summertime,
and why you're now no friend of mine.

Reaching for the sun,
Perfectly made and admired,
It is a piece of art,
It is highly desired.

I wonder how a rose,
Being so beautiful,
Could ever feel worthless,
When it is such a jewel.

I wonder how a rose,
Could ever feel hurt,
I only see perfection,
It sees thorns, rain and dirt.

How can the rose not see,
Thorns, rain and dirt are planned,
Not to punish, but to help it,
Be the best it can?

I see him staring from a distant place
I know he wishes only to embrace
not just my hand, my heart and soul as well
but for an unknown reason, keeps his space.

I feel his precious eyes sink into me
they're powerful to such a strong degree
I get quite scared and turn my head away
and will until my heart and mind agree.

Too many accounts of a broken heart
to even consider a brand new start
I contradict my heart and feed my mind
is nothing is formed, it can't fall apart.

I must pretend I am too blind to see
my honest love for him, and his for me.

I've searched for, discovered,
And I'm ready to be,
Shamelessly
Unapologetically
Magically
Me

Take me as I am,
Or dont take me at all.
No bending, no breaking,
It's time to stand tall.

Another day, another to-do list
Two pages long, fists start to clench
Endless effort, you do your best
And at the end of the day, some are left unchecked.

You say: “I must do better tomorrow,                      
I should have gotten more done,
I really tried my hardest,
But I only finished some.”

A day full of work, but the tension remains
Your clenched fists aren’t relieved

Saying “only, but, should” and “must”
Only minimize what was achieved.

Perfection is ideal, but not attainable

And that is okay.

Do what you can, but take care of yourself.
Tomorrow’s a new day.

I know those as soft as cotton,
Always lessening the blow,
Each layer adds protection,
Pain can only sink so low.

I know those who are like sponges,
They're always bouncing back,
Endlessly resilient,
Attack after attack.

I know those as strong as steel,
They don't bend, don't break, don't move,
They act as their on armor,
You will never see them lose.

And I know those who are like glass,
Deeply scratched but shining bright,
Never giving up, putting up a fight,
In pain but reflecting light.

We lessen the blow
And we bounce back,
We are our own armor.
We shine through our scratches
Protect ourselves,
We're our own safe harbor.

Sitting in the audience
And watching life pass you by
Like a film on a screen
You're in scene after scene
Yet somehow, you're not the spotlight

Better at drifting than chasing
Tending to settle, not strive
Better at leaving than trying
Empty, yet unconcerned why

If you only take what you’re given,
You’ll have some smiles I’m sure,
But peace, pride and fulfillment
Won’t come if you don’t make them yours

Walking, drifting, watching, seeing
Are you living or only being?
Want, look, find, chase
Run from the audience and jump on stage

They all ignore the inside,
set focus on the out,
spend time replacing confidence,
with ugly bitter doubt.
If you don't fit the mold,
they'll leave you right behind,
you're just another victim,
living in a world of blind .

I always search, strive and change
Looking for progress, I rearrange
I try to make where I am special
But I can’t seem to settle.

I don’t want to be hard to please
I just want to find my peace
If I dont feel it when I try what I can
I look elsewhere, and gone I am.

If you need a lover,
count on me no longer.
I've got to let you go,
I've got to become stronger.

Please don't call me baby,
please don't call me dear.
there's no more going back,
my path is finally clear.

Please forget the memories,
please forget the flame.
but if you need a friend,
please don't forget my name.

Your lover left you
yesterday,
You noticed a hair
that is gray,
you gained five pounds
this holiday,
it seems that nothing
goes your way.

The sun will rise
and set each day,
The moon gives light
to lead your way,
flowers bloom to
brighten your day,
how can you say
things aren't your way?

Beauty is truly
everywhere,
uncross your arms
and leave your chair,
open your eyes,
become aware,
this is your day;
life's not unfair.

Sidewalks packed with people,
looking toward the ground,
it's either negativitity,
or heads weighing fifty pounds.

Maybe they look down so rain,
will not get in their eyes,
or maybe they're upset the sky,
isn't always as colorful as sunrise.

It's easy to miss what isn't seen,
but they'll probably find whatever they lose,
they're missing almost all the beauty,
but at least they have nice shoes.

Instead of always looking down,
why don't they take a look around?
They'd find interest in beautiful things,
instead of perfectly tied shoe strings.

Some like to live by following lists
To decide what's good enough,
Trusting the rules, the "shoulds" and ideals,
Not heart, intuition or gut.

Rulebooks and list have a time and place,
A purpose, a reason, a use,
But if unhappy we aren't let down
We just list another excuse.

"He's so nice, I must be wrong,
This job should be my dream."
Following lists can lead to smiles  
But they won't make you beam.

To find your own fulfillment,
Don't follow a recipe,
Or assume it is one size fits all,
Don't take your happiness lightly.

So yes, you can follow a guide
Of where you think you should go,
You can settle for things that make you content
Or wait for what makes you glow.

My tears fall down,
and slowly move south,
and mix with the words,
flowing out of my mouth.

They fly through the clouds,
and with the bees,
they float over the grass,
and through the trees.

And end up at the feet,
of a young girl,
who is currently holding,
the weight of the world.

They go to her heart,
and that's where they stay,
until she has learned,
and passed them away.

I don't value I treasure.
I either tiptoe or run.
No need for me to measure,
My thoughts aren't feathers, they're tons.

My worries, they aren't waves,
They're frightening hurricanes,
I don't hurt for hours,
I always hurt for days.

I do not try to bandage,
I only aim to heal.
I don't admire lightly,
I see endless appeal.

Moderation's not my friend,
Maybe I'm all or none,
But at least there is no question,
I don't like, I love.

It's hard to be a small fish in a big sea,
And even harder when it storms.
One day all is going well,
Then you're thrown into coral thorns.

Choppy water, powerful waves,
Swirling currents,
Can't catch a break.

When you feel an inch tall
In a world so large,
Don't sit back and watch,
It's time to take charge.

We can't change the world
And we can't stop the storms
But we control ourselves
Even when the wind whirls.

Find your protection,
Find your strength,
Find your safety,
And find your own peace.

When you armor yourself
And don't depend on the world,
No matter the chaos,
Peace can always be yours.

I'm not sure when,
But at some point,
Life turned into a race.
As others fight,
to beat the rest,
I keep a slow and steady pace.

Everyone's screaming,
So others can know,
What place they are in.
I stride in silence,
As others pass by,
And watch them take the win.

Those ever in first,
Only see themselves,
And how they appear.
Their actions are,
Guided by,
The crowds roaring cheers.

Last place allows me,
To step back,
And see more than myself.
By losing the race,
I win more,
Than a trophy on my shelf.

A house is condemned
Doors boarded shut
Then someone comes along
And says “open up!”
As if the house can remove
What was left by others
Immovable, secured
Layers of construction.
The person sees the weak walls
The peeling paint and broken floors
The “condemned” sign
But can’t help but see more.
They come back with a crew
And the next things you know
This condemned house
Became a home.

Are you this house?
Broken and condemned?
Wanting some company
But can’t let anyone in?
Sometimes the repair
Is more than a one-man job.
It's okay to reach out,
Find your crew and hold on.

You'd melt me to a puddle,
And stomp through me in boots,
Then politely clean me up,
No wonder I was confused.

A small collection of water,
Weak and backless with no voice,
Stomped through, walked on,
I forgot I had a choice.

Once a passive puddle,
But now I am the rain,
Do you know what rain erases?
The flame.

No more power over me,
I'll choose when I fall,
And by fall I mean pour,
And by pour I mean stand tall.

Breathe in, breathe out,
it's natures way;
the tide-
it comes and goes.
Though you cannot
predict the time,
the wind-
it always blows.
While you may try
to force a bloom,
the spring
wakens the rose.
No matter what
is hurt or lost,
the time
constantly flows.

Nature's next move
is something that
we know
nothing about.
We control all things
in this life;
nature
goes on without.

I'd like to be somebody else,
just for a single day.
It's not that I don't like myself,
and not so I can play.

I want to be somebody known,
and somebody with power.
Not so I can rule the world,
or hopelessly devour.

I'm not interested in money,
or spreading a false word.
I want to put a mind behind
a voice that's really heard.

If Earth had a first time visitor
In the middle of our winter,
When the trees are bare and the hills are brown,
They might feel pity when they look around,
They won’t see life or hope or cheer,
They might see emptiness and despair.
If they left that day they’d have made up their mind,
Earth, it has no shine.

But we know better since we live here,
And we see the transformation each year.
We know that winter is temporary,
Not forever, the end, or scary.

So if you meet someone during their winter,
Don’t see them as bare, hopeless or a quitter,
See them with hope and know that soon,
They will find their bloom.

I’m not tissue paper,
Despite what you think.
I might crumble,
But I won’t break.

Won’t fly away
In gentle wind,
I won’t dissolve
When the rain hits my skin.

Steadfast through
The hurricanes,
So do what you will,
But here I’ll stay.

I swear I’m stronger than you think,
Might be weighed down, but I’ll never sink.

A lifetime of tiptoes and quiet tones
Don’t rock the boat or put on a show
Head down, smile and nod
Agreeable, don’t seek applause

She’s perfectly polished but overly modest
She could move mountains but she’s endlessly cautious
Living in what-ifs and worries and whys
Curious of potential, afraid to try

She drifts and so she settles
Her life is safe but doesn't feel special
She keeps her distance, won't get too close
Except to her caution, she loves it the most

It has a time and place, it seems
But nothing is good if it’s to the extreme
Protection, or afraid to grow?
Caution, is it friend or foe?

It takes risk to get rewarded,
Caution is costly but safe,
So turn your tip-toes into marching
And let your still boat make some waves.