Aging is a process that takes you by surprise,                                                        ­
                                                                ­                                                      
  one day you see a reflection you don't  recognize                                                 ­                               
                                 ­                                                                 ­          
Wrinkles where once smooth skin used to be,                                      
                       ­                                                                 ­                              
  fine lines around your eyes you missed completely                                              
                                                                ­                                                      
No amounts of lotion will make it go away                                                             ­                                                     
           ­                                                                 ­                                       
  When did your body betray you, no
permission  gave                                                ­                                                    
                                                                ­                                                
Eyes once so vibrant have now begun to fade,                                                
                                                                ­                                                      
in them a faint glimmer of your glory days                                                             ­                                 
                               ­                                                                 ­                   
 No wonder they say. you're only as young as you
feel,                                                
           ­                                                                 ­                                      
You still feel young inside, this is so surreal                                                          ­        
                                                        ­                                                        
Then the aches & pains start to catch up to you,                                                    
                                                                ­                                                      
 is when you realize the damage the years can
  do                                    
                                                                 ­                                                   
So caught up in life before you get the
chance                                                           ­ 
                                                               ­                                                      
 to be able to know you're a victim of
  circumstance                                              
   ­                                                                 ­                                                
  So, breathe in deeply, give into your
fate                                                             ­                 
                                               ­                                                                 ­  
and promise to enjoy living before it's too late

Wading into the sea of vulnerability,                                                   ­                         
                                       ­                                                                 ­     
    bobbing constantly so it won't swallow me,                                                      
       ­                                                                 ­                                                
as the tide rolls in, it tries to consume
me                                                               ­   
                                                                ­                                                      
   I know where I am & where I want to
   be,                                                              ­
                                                                ­                                                        
  so, I hold on strong & breathe
slightly                                                        ­                                                            
                                                                ­                                                        
I might be wrong, my insight evades
me                                                              
­                                                                 ­                                               
Until I see the shore & the sun
rising                                                           ­           
                                                     ­                                                                 ­  
I will be unsure until God enlightens
  me                                                            ­
                                                                ­                                                      
if it is really safe for me, in the sea of vulnerability?                                                   ­                          ,

I climbed up the mountain side,                                                            ­                  
                                              ­                                                                 ­ 
taking in the beautiful sights                                                           ­               
                                                                ­                                          
Breathing in the fresh air so
high                                                             ­                     
                                           ­                                                                 ­        
until it totally filled me inside                                                           ­                         
                                       ­                                                                 ­          
While I inhaled so freely                                                           ­                 
                                                                ­                                                        
of the mountain air so
deeply                                                           ­                           
                                                                ­                                                        
I felt I was taking in its
beauty                                                           ­                           
                                                                ­                                                  
and the essence went through
me                                                               ­       
                                                         ­                                                               
I became a part of that
mountain,                                                        ­                    
                                                                ­                                                
pure energy flowing like a
fountain                                                         ­       
                                                         ­                                                    
 Filling me with its
serenity                                                         ­                         
                                                                ­                                                    
as a calmness washed over
me                                                               ­       
                                                                ­                                           
       Mother Nature, God &
  Heaven                                                        ­                  
                                                                ­                                          
working together times
seven                                                            ­                    
                                                                ­                                              
    Never have I felt such
    peace                                                       ­                     
                                           ­                                                                 ­      
the way God wants me to be

Go ahead and point your finger at
me,                                                              ­    
                                                            ­                                                            
   I only reflect your own
insecurities                                                    ­                                                        
        ­                                                                 ­                                             
Call me the names that cause you
fear,                                                            ­                              
                                                                ­                                                  
afraid of what you don't want to
hear                                                             ­     
                                                                ­                                                  
Gang up on me with your group of
friends,                                                         ­ 
                                                                ­                                            
worrying that they'll turn on you in the
end                                                            
                                                                ­                                        
Persecute me & deflect from the
truth                                                        
   ­                                                                 ­                                    
convince them that you have some
proof                                                      
     ­                                                                 ­                                        
Mock how I'm comfortable in my
skin,                                                            ­                              
                                  ­                                                                 ­             
as you fight the torture from  
within                                                           ­ 
                                                               ­                                                         
I know you hate admiring me the
most                                                             ­   
                                                                ­                                                
you're in the shadows, I am your
ghost                                                      
                                                                ­                                               
  While you are taking turns hurting
  me,                                                          
­                                                                 ­                                     
remember I am who you want to be

Dear other woman,                                                           ­                                     
                                                                ­                                                        
he doesn't care about you,                                                             ­                     
                                           ­                                                                 ­            
he was once my man                                                              ­                                                  
and at one time I was you                                                              ­                                                                 ­                                                                
­                                                                 ­                                                   
He'll never
checkup                                                          ­                                            
                    ­                                                                 ­                                   
to make sure you're
okay                                                             ­                         
                                                                ­                                                  
and when he's had
enough,                                                          ­                                
                                                                ­                                                    
he will be on his way                                                              ­                              
                                  ­                                                                 ­             
He'll spend his
weekends,                                                        ­                          
                                      ­                                                                 ­       
doing what he wants                                                            ­                  
                                                                ­                                        
Hanging out with friends,                                                         ­                       
                                                                ­                                                  
and you stay home alone                                                            ­                  
                                              ­                                                                
You'll be up all night,                                                           ­           
                                                     ­                                                       
waiting by the phone                                                            ­                            
                                    ­                                                                 ­            
 and he'll start a
fight                                                            ­                                  
                                                                ­                                                    
  so, he can stay out on his
own                                                              ­                              
                                  ­                                                                 ­           
You'll think he's
cheating,                                                        ­                              
                                  ­                                                                 ­              
 he'll say it's in your
  mind                                                          ­                              
                                                                ­                                                    
  He will have you
  thinking,                                                     ­                     
                                           ­                                                                 ­      
that you're wasting his
time                                                             ­           
                                                                ­                                                  
Just when you think you                                                              ­                    
                                            ­                                                                 ­   
can't take it anymore                                                          ­                                                    
            ­                                                                 ­                                    
  and you have the
proof                                                            ­                                  
                              ­                                                                 ­                       
to nail his *** to the floor,                                                           ­                   
                                                                ­                                                
here come the flowers                                                          ­                                                    
                                                                ­                                                    
so, he can get back in                                                               ­                                   
                                                                ­                                            
Giving him back the
power,                                                           ­                           
                                     ­                                                                 ­                
to cheat on you again                                                            ­                            
                                    ­                                                                 ­                   
I know you are wondering,                                                       ­               
                                                 ­                                                                
 why I am confiding in
you,                                                             ­                   
                                                                ­                                                    
  it's because I've been
  there,                                                        ­                                        
                        ­                                                                 ­                           
and at one time I was you

Sometimes you have to fall on your knees,                                                           ­ 
                                                                ­                                                        
to prove how strong you can really
be                                                              
                                                                ­                                                      
The ability to get back
up,                                                             ­                                                                 ­                                                                 ­                                           
can make you hard, make you
tough                                                           ­                                                   
                                                                ­                                    
    Sometimes you have to shed some tears                                                            ­        
to realize how to fight your fears
                                                                 ­                                                  
You know what they all say,                                                             ­         
                                                       ­                                                         
there are gonna be better days                                                             ­           
                                                                ­                                                      
A broken heart can heal
itself,                                                          ­              
                                                                ­                                                
with a little love, a little
help                                                             ­                           
                                     ­                                                                 ­        
Don't just give your heart
away                                                             ­                                             
                                                                ­                                          
because someone tells you it's
okay                                                             ­     
                                                           ­                                                   
Love's not all that it's cracked up to
be                                                              
­                                                                 ­                                                 
and being alone doesn't mean
lonely                                                           ­           
                                                     ­                                                            
  Learn to love yourself the
  best                                                          ­                
                                                                ­                                                 
 and let God do all the
  rest                                                          ­                  
                                              ­                                                                 ­     
  Be your own true & best friend,                                                          ­
                                                                ­                                                     
  we all die alone in the
  end                                                           ­                 
                                               ­                                                                 ­    
Do what is right between you &
you,                                                             ­   
                                                             ­                                                     
life is beautiful when you do

Sometimes it's hard to know where a man's loyalties
lie                                                              ­                                                    
and at times, it's hard to see what's right before your
eyes                                                             ­                                                               
and when & if that happens, he can take you for a
ride                                                             ­                                            
 and that kind of resentment does not easily
subside                                                          ­      
                                                                ­                                                        
 It can be easy for a man to pull you right
 in                                                             ­                                                     
when he says the right things & pays
attention                                                        ­                                          
The only way to see if he's the cheating
kind                                                             ­                                               
is to fall in love first with his soul & his
 mind                                                    
                                                                ­                                                        
 If he's worth the wait, he will stick
   around                                                          ­                                             
  If he's pressuring you, tell him to hit the ground
  It is not that easy for a treasure to be
  found                                                         ­                                                
 So, listen with both ears, wait for the right
  sound                                                  
                                                                ­                                                  
Too many times, we give away our heart                                                            ­                                              
too much too soon can tear it all apart                                                            ­                                                  
Take it slow & easy that's a good                                                          
  ­start                                                            ­                                  
 building a true love is the best part