No True Defeat – A Poem

I’m trying to write a poem for how I feel

Search deep inside myself, express something that is real

I try to close my eyes and open my heart

Listen inside for emotions coming together and coming apart

I have traveled a long road and I’m proud

So much achieved but so much more to drag

Out of the circle of comfort I am in

That familiar place I’ve always been

What is it that I’m looking for?

Am I looking for success or simply another chore?

Do I want something that’ll make me feel secure

Or a feeling that will give me closure

Closure that I didn’t waste my time

Assurance that I did my best and at it I was so fine

I want to establish a very strong feeling

That in my standards, I’m the best being

I now look at my sketch of my life

It’s drafted in pencil so susceptible to change

Now is the time to ink it permanent

Make the decisions that will my life more relevant

So much things waiting out there

Will I waste my time with my ordinary stare?

I’ve been staring too much already

It’s time to go there, I am ready

And even though there is fear for what’s there

That’s the ultimate sign that you totally care

Not just about yourself but about the people around you

For when you take that step, it’ll involve them too

For you may travel alone but you take with you

The hearts of all those in your heart

And when you reach that point you’ve been yearning

Hundred hearts will be with you smiling

So don’t be afraid to take on the challenge

You are equipped with everything you need

The only thing missing is the belief

That in such journey, there is really no true defeat

Powerful With The Way We Respond

People say we always have a choice. Whatever it is that we are facing, it’s always our choice to handle it. We can choose to handle it optimistically, seeing the glass half full. We can also handle it pessimistically, seeing the glass half empty. But I guess, even if we always have the choice, we won’t be able to choose what situation we are in.

It’s like I decide to handle this problem maturely but it was not my decision to be in such situation. It’s so easy to blame the people and situations that put us to such things and to some degree it’s understandable. We don’t have a choice regarding the situations we would be facing; the choice comes from the situation and not the situation from the choice. But I believe that life in general is that way. The mere fact that anytime after I write this entry, something good or bad can happen to me or to anyone I do and do not know reminds us that we are not completely in control of our lives. We faced and will be facing situations that are consequences of the things we did and did not do. No matter how we would love to blame other people and/or other events that lead us to circumstances that we don’t like, it’s not really much of our say.

Our say comes after the situation happened. Fine, something bad happened, an accident for example that is least likely to happen but it still did. Chances are, it was not our choice to be in that situation. I would have never wished for the bad things that happened to me. I would have never decided to undergo such bad experiences but now as I write, I’m still so powerless with the line of events that I’ll be facing. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow or next week, next month or next year. But the wonderful part is that we could always DECIDE the way to react, the way to handle, and the way to push through. Even if we are powerless to the circumstances surrounding our life all pegged in a vast time line, we are powerful with the way we respond.

I was able to think about this when I was walking along the road on my way home. I was recalling some bad experiences that happened to me. I know I handle things pretty well but I thought to myself that even though it was my choice to be mature and to be optimistic with my situation, it was not my choice to be in that situation.

But then again, power is given to what is important. And as long as we remain powerful with the way we respond to the challenges we will be facing, I would like to believe that we’ll be able to make the best out of life.