The March 2022 Poem of the Month, Adaptability, was written last fall, and included among the 24 poems I wrote to my kids for Advent. Somehow, now seems to be a good time to share it with all of you.

The times now are strange, and seem to be getting even more strange, with what is going on around us, and all over the world! How do we cope with all the changes that are circling around us… and around the rest of the world? Sometimes I feel like Ziggy, the little newspaper cartoon character standing alone and looking forlorn. His words are: “Every time I figure out where it’s at… somebody moves it!” Truly, that thought enters my consciousness every now and then.

So, for me, staying adaptable (which fosters creative thinking) is a pretty darned good way to deal. It works most of the time for me. How about you?

Remember, Whatever the question, love is always the answer.

ADAPTABIITY

Have you noticed that life doesn’t always stay the same?
And have you noticed that in order to survive,
Your ability to adapt plays an all-important role…
It’s a skill worth having if you want to stay alive.

Darwin said survival of the species depends upon
The ability to adapt to change (which can be difficult to foresee).
Remember, change is the constant. (It’s the only thing that is.)
Strength or intelligence, alone, is no guarantee.

A humorist by the name of Anon Y. Mous
Once made this statement (now, please don’t yawn):
“When something goes wrong in your life (and it will)
Just yell ‘Plot Twist,’ [regroup] and move on.”

There’s honesty in humor, quite often, because
It eases your move into “truth” with less pain.
Adapting to change requires flexibility,
And a dose of humility — creativity to attain.

It can be said that all failure in your life
Is failure to adapt to the change that is occurring.
Adaptability is the simple secret of survival.
This I believe, and surely you’re concurring.

There are so many quotes on the subject of truth; the one that stands out the strongest is “The truth will set you free!…” And one very clever person added: “…But not until it is finished with you!”

And I think I like Booker T. Washington’s comment on the subject, just about best of all: “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it is accepted by a majority.”

Albert Einstein said, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”

The quotes on the subject have continued on down through the ages, but truth seems to be very difficult to find these days, especially amongst some of our politicians, the representatives we elect to “represent” us in Congress; and, perhaps the media, and, and, and…. The beat goes on…

I believe that truth begins on the personal level. We must first tell ourselves the truth, then it is easier to tell the truth to someone else… it becomes a habit, a way of life. Telling yourself the truth, and then living that truth, emboldens the feeling, the belief, you have about yourself. Your confidence level increases. Fear dissipates and you have the freedom to be the wonderful you that you are!

I guess “The truth will set you free!” deserves to be the quote most favored.

TRUTH

Buddha says, “Three things cannot be hidden:
The sun, the moon and the truth…”
The lesson is strong and should be learned
While you are still in your youth.

Truth is compared to the oil on the water…
The level of the oil doesn’t drop,
No matter how much water you add to depress it.
Truth and oil will always float to the top.

Denying the truth does not change the facts.
They are there before you, night and day.
Truth, like the sun, can be shut out for a time,
But it is always there. It won’t go away.

Truth exists; only lies are invented.
(I have this on great authority!)
The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it.
A lie is still a lie, even if supported by a majority.

My New Year’s Resolution for 2022, besides being happy and grateful each day, is to send out my Poems of the Month early enough in the month that you have time to read and enjoy them sometime before the next month begins.

So, here goes with January 2022’s offering... It’s called “Vision,” a subject about which I am deeply enamored. It was the first new poem I wrote for the Advent Season 2021!

With Vision, goals get accomplished, and life moves along at the pace you’ve set for yourselves, and you’re generally a happier person… Lots of Benefits!

I hope you enjoy this offering…

VISION

Sight is what your eyes produce
And vision is sourced from the heart.
So, never let what your eyes can see
Affect your vision. Know them apart.

Vision is more than seeing what can be…
It’s an appeal to your better qualities.
It’s a call to be something more than you are…
An opportunity to reach your potentialities.

Vision with action can change the world!
This life is your one chance to reach your goal!
Don’t let fear or doubt keep you from accomplishing;
Keep moving forward… you are in control.

There’s a Japanese proverb that puts a spin
On the subject of vision… here I share:
“Vision without action is daydreaming;
Action without vision is a nightmare!”

Without vision for your future you’ll return to your past.
Your reality will be determined by outdated perceptions.
Oh, and always chase your vision, not the money…
Money will follow, with few exceptions.