LEVEL UP

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LEVEL UP

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When things go wrong as they sometimes will

There's an alternative to booze and pills

We can have something as strong as hope

We can train our minds to cope

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At first coping is hard, darn near impossible

Yet we want to keep going, we are darn near unstoppable

Learning to cope, yes, that takes time

But we can do it once we set our minds

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This time no matter how long it takes

We will learn from our mistakes

Coping is a wonderful tool

Only taught in life's hard knock school

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The very next challenge that comes our way

We can learn something and win the day

Once we successfully cope with strokes and strife

We will have that wisdom all our lives

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TODDLE ON

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TODDLE ON

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When a toddler is learning to walk

We don't see them stumble and fall repeatedly

And think "They are a failure. It is hopeless."

Not at all.

We think they are in the process of learning to walk

A skill they will have all their lives

Which might be expanded into running

Playing sports, dancing

We encourage that toddler with open arms

Perhaps following them with a cushion in case they fall

We give them all the praise we can to go forward

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The same principle holds for when we try something new

We are toddlers once again

Our minds must learn, our bodies train

To the new skills

While we might wobble around

Precariously close to falling (or actually taking a tumble)

We get back up and try again, and again, and again

The courage and determination of our inner toddler

Is a touching and awesome quality of nature

Being brave and goal oriented is still alive and well

Within us.

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A SHIP CALLED PEACE

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A SHIP CALLED PEACE

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Time doesn't heal all wounds

Some of them, sure

But oftentimes we just get so damn tired

Of carrying around all that weight

So exhausted in the thought maze that has no exit

We begin to sigh, and gradually resignation sets in

Not about the wound and the circumstances

Just acceptance of its existence

The impossiblity of turning back time

Changing the outcome

When this happens we stand a chance of breaking free

From the orbit of despair, anger, defeat

So we can head off to who-knows-where

To try something new.

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ALL I ASK

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ALL I ASK

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Every morning I put on music

And dance a little happy dance

Just to make sure I can join in 

The merry ballroom of existing

One more swirling day

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WHAT ARE GHOSTS?

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WHAT ARE GHOSTS?

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What are ghosts?

They are the unburied past, unresolved issues

Justice delayed or denied

What do the ghosts want?

Perhaps they want to truly let go of the past

And head towards the healing Light

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LIGHT FROM WITHIN

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LIGHT FROM WITHIN

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If you smile when you are alone

Just thinking your thoughts

That is a milestone, a good sign

That you were happy with the contents of your mind

A great treasure stored in one of the most secure places

The vault of your thoughts, your hoard of knowledge

Where the most precious jewels of your reign

Are kept safe from prying eyes

Where you store your identity, good intentions and heartfelt hopes. 

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NIHILIUM TRIBULATIO

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NIHILIUM TRIBULATIO

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We may not always know what we want

But we all know what we don't want

We don't want trouble

Sometimes trouble is tricky to avoid

We can stay off the path marked "TROUBLE"

That comes with reaching maturity

But trouble also crouches on the sides of our path

Ready to leap out and startle us with the unexpected nature

Of the attack

Moving carefully and mindfully, scanning everything

For signs of trouble, we might stop it before it starts

Once we make avoiding trouble a priority

Many things just automatically fall into place

And work in our favor.

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