I’ve struggled with this problem myself. I always used to worry about what others thought about me. I would see them staring at me and then a thousand thoughts would be whipping through my head. “Why are they staring at me?” “Do they think I’m a strange person just because I am sitting down?” “I wish I were normal.” Thoughts like that were what stopped me from living to my fullest potential. Everything I did would be almost completely based on what others would think of me afterwards. Everyone has a different opinion of life and what is right and wrong, normal and abnormal, beautiful and ugly. Therefore, it is impossible to be who the world wants you to be. But it is possible to be who YOU want to be.
It took me a while to figure that simple statement out. The only way I could realize that I would not want to be anyone else is by being myself. Once you open yourself up to the world and let whoever wants to accept you for who you are. Sure, you are taking a risk when you do this. You are risking losing some friends. Frankly, though, are they really your friends if they cannot accept you for YOU? And by being yourself think about all of the new and even closer friends you will gain. Those new friends may have been there the entire time, but you never chose to hang out with them since they weren’t as accepted as everyone else. All that truly matters is that you accept yourself. The rest will follow.
“But I don’t know who I truly am yet…” It’s fine to say that. It takes a long time and a lot of work to find out who you are at the core. If you are not ready just yet to take the plunge and be yourself, then that’s okay too. That also takes time to work up the courage. When you do find yourself and the courage to be that very person you know deep down inside you are, then take the plunge. It may be a long way down sometimes, but there will always be someone to catch you at the bottom. And that person may be the last person you thought it could ever be. Just take that first step, and the steps that follow will become easier over time.
“How do I know if I am not being myself?” The answer to that is simple. It takes more work to change who you are for others than it does to be yourself. So if it seems like you have to try and think about everything when you are out in public, then you are most likely not being yourself. Truly being whom you are inside should come naturally and easily. So, “who says you’re not perfect?” The simple answer is who really cares what they think? If you think you’re perfect, then YOU are perfect.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
You Are In Control
Never let anyone,
Shut down your dream,
No matter how easy,
Or hard it may seem.
Never let anyone,
Borrow your heart,
No matter how innocent,
It seemed from the start.
Never let anyone,
Change who you are,
Even if they think,
It will get you quite far.
Just remember your life,
Is your’s for the taking,
A fool of yourself,
Is sometimes worth making.
Set yourself free,
I’m sure you’ll be fine,
Even if some people say,
That you’re crossing the line.
To make something of yourself,
The last things you’ll need,
Are money and wealth,
Power and greed,
No need to ever,
Put your hope on the shelf,
Many doctors have told me,
It’s not good for your health! :)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Laughing Through Pain
Guest Post - James Lacerenza
It was always my dream to meet Jerry Lewis. Over the last 20 or so years of my 25 years of being on Earth, I was the kid who stayed up and watched all 21 and a half hours of Jerry’s annual telethon for muscular dystrophy, before I even realized what the show was for, why it was on my television, and just who was hosting it.
As I grew, I learned about Jerry’s partnership with Dean Martin, I watched some of his movies (“Disorderly Orderly” is my favorite); I knew of his successes and failures, his fans and detractors. However, I never ever dreamed I would really meet him, despite multiple people, actually at least 100 people, probably hundreds more, saying things like, “I hope you meet him”, or “you deserve to meet him”, or “that would be so awesome if you met him” over the course of the last decade. I believed I would meet him, I just didn’t know how or when.
So, when it was announced that my idol (or as I called him, “God”) was celebrating his 86th birthday (March 16, 2012) the day before my 25th one (March 17, 2012), my dad and I resolved to go, and I vowed to at least be in the same room as my inspiration.
I should explain that despite living with cerebral palsy, I not only watched Jerry’s telethon for muscular dystrophy until Jerry’s sudden, unexpected “goodbye” in 2010, I actively participated it, first as a volunteer in my hometown, then as a presenter who turned in to a local host on the 2008 New York City broadcast. In the process, I’ve raised well over one hundred thousand dollars for kids with muscular dystrophy to go to Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) camp in Spring Valley, New York and I’ve added a second camp site, Jett Foundation’s Camp Promise East as well. So, I felt it was my duty to show my loyalty to Jerry.
The celebration was actually split into two parts, one half was for the public in the form of a lecture and Q&A session at the 92nd Street YMCA in Manhattan, the other was a semi-private party at the hallowed Friar’s Club also in Manhattan.
Leading up to the show, I had been having a rough stretch of days in my life but tried my best not to complain, publicly or otherwise, though it was hard. While my birthday was mere hours before Jerry’s, I lost my mom a week after my 19th birthday in 2006, so my emotions were somewhat jumbled. Add in a job search that seemed to be stuck in “neutral” and “cabin fever” from being told I wouldn’t be able to drive (yet – I depend on my dad to drive me around for now), and I knew I was in desperate need of pulling out the one universal weapon that both Jerry and I (but especially Jerry) were really good at using in times of stress and trouble: laughter.
After a lengthy discussion with Richard Belzer (Law and Order, all 98 versions) on Jerry’s movies and other things, including Jerry claiming he didn’t retire, he was fired from the telethon by MDA (Jerry’s claim, not mine, here’s a link to where he said it!), the time for questions from the audience came. (It was so hot in the auditorium, I actually got nervous and had to regroup with a drink of water and watch most of the show in an air conditioned room next to the auditorium.)
My father was worried I wouldn’t have a good question, since Jerry told the audience that we didn’t need to tell him how much we loved him – some people did, and got a playful, sometimes annoyed Jerry to deal with, yet, to be fair, all of us there that night were used to “angry Jerry”, having seen much of his body of work.
When I rolled down to the stage, a grin began to form on Jerry’s face as if I was a ray of sunshine peaking through the clouds of people saying “I love you!” that was giving him a headache.
Loud enough for everyone to hear, he and I spoke.
“Hi Jerry!”, I said, not loudly, but louder than most of the others in the audience had been.
Jerry replied: “Hi, could you speak a little softer?”
I whispered, “okay”, and there was that sound I was looking for – LAUGHTER. I knew I had the audience’s attention now.
“Jerry, I don’t want to tell you I love you because you know that already, but my name is James Lacerenza, I have cerebral palsy and I’ve sent about 50 to 100 of your “kids” to camp. I just want you to know you’re my hero.”
The audience, without me asking, broke into applause for about 15 seconds, probably a bit longer.
“James”, Jerry said, “I remember you, yes. I know all about what you’ve done. Are you Italian?”
Of course, I said, “yes!”
Jerry uttered: “I can smell the garlic breath from here!”
A wave of laughter came from everyone, including me.
Jerry continued: “What’s your question, sweetheart?”
I replied: “I wanted to know what advice you had for me raising more money for the kids, and if you could give me a hug after the show.”
Then, the words I never thought I’d hear came from Jerry: “I’ll meet you backstage after the show to do exactly that.”
More applause followed, and my body and brain felt a mix of emotions: shock, happiness, nervousness, excitement, bliss, being extremely grateful and fortunate, all rolled into one. I also silently thanked my mother. I knew she had planned this somewhere in heaven.
A half hour later, after patiently waiting for the end of the show, in the dual basement and garbage room of the YMCA, the elevator door rolled open, and here came Jerry BLEEPING Lewis.
We shook hands as Jerry said, “I was looking for you! Where’d you go!”
I shot back: “Well, your crew made me hard to find, which isn’t easy most days.” A grin came over his face as he leaned in towards me and I grew serious in tone.
“So, what advice would you give me to raise money? I don’t want to be Jerry Lewis, I want to be James Lacerenza, but carry some of your compassion.”
“Well, that’s a good start, you have to be you and you also have to trust your gut”, Jerry chimed back.
“I want to just be a tenth as good as you at helping people. What else would you recommend?”, I asked.
“Don’t let anyone or anything negatively influence you. Try to surround yourself with positive people and thoughts and good things will happen. They already have!”, he exclaimed, referring to my previous years of work.
Jerry had to catch a bus to the Friars for his birthday dinner, but not before a hug, a kiss on the forehead, and one other request.
“Jerry”, I said, giddy with happiness – could we yell “HEY LADY” together?
And there it was, me and Jerry, smiling, laughing, and in a whiny, high pitched voice that we both knew how to do from all of his movies….there goes that “LAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY-DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”
“Remember what I said”, Lewis intoned as he gazed into my soul and I gazed back into his: “TRUST YOUR GUT and you’ll go far.”
From that moment on, my spirit, and for that matter, my stomach and all of its intestines, have never felt stronger.
It was always my dream to meet Jerry Lewis. Over the last 20 or so years of my 25 years of being on Earth, I was the kid who stayed up and watched all 21 and a half hours of Jerry’s annual telethon for muscular dystrophy, before I even realized what the show was for, why it was on my television, and just who was hosting it.
As I grew, I learned about Jerry’s partnership with Dean Martin, I watched some of his movies (“Disorderly Orderly” is my favorite); I knew of his successes and failures, his fans and detractors. However, I never ever dreamed I would really meet him, despite multiple people, actually at least 100 people, probably hundreds more, saying things like, “I hope you meet him”, or “you deserve to meet him”, or “that would be so awesome if you met him” over the course of the last decade. I believed I would meet him, I just didn’t know how or when.
So, when it was announced that my idol (or as I called him, “God”) was celebrating his 86th birthday (March 16, 2012) the day before my 25th one (March 17, 2012), my dad and I resolved to go, and I vowed to at least be in the same room as my inspiration.
I should explain that despite living with cerebral palsy, I not only watched Jerry’s telethon for muscular dystrophy until Jerry’s sudden, unexpected “goodbye” in 2010, I actively participated it, first as a volunteer in my hometown, then as a presenter who turned in to a local host on the 2008 New York City broadcast. In the process, I’ve raised well over one hundred thousand dollars for kids with muscular dystrophy to go to Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) camp in Spring Valley, New York and I’ve added a second camp site, Jett Foundation’s Camp Promise East as well. So, I felt it was my duty to show my loyalty to Jerry.
The celebration was actually split into two parts, one half was for the public in the form of a lecture and Q&A session at the 92nd Street YMCA in Manhattan, the other was a semi-private party at the hallowed Friar’s Club also in Manhattan.
Leading up to the show, I had been having a rough stretch of days in my life but tried my best not to complain, publicly or otherwise, though it was hard. While my birthday was mere hours before Jerry’s, I lost my mom a week after my 19th birthday in 2006, so my emotions were somewhat jumbled. Add in a job search that seemed to be stuck in “neutral” and “cabin fever” from being told I wouldn’t be able to drive (yet – I depend on my dad to drive me around for now), and I knew I was in desperate need of pulling out the one universal weapon that both Jerry and I (but especially Jerry) were really good at using in times of stress and trouble: laughter.
After a lengthy discussion with Richard Belzer (Law and Order, all 98 versions) on Jerry’s movies and other things, including Jerry claiming he didn’t retire, he was fired from the telethon by MDA (Jerry’s claim, not mine, here’s a link to where he said it!), the time for questions from the audience came. (It was so hot in the auditorium, I actually got nervous and had to regroup with a drink of water and watch most of the show in an air conditioned room next to the auditorium.)
My father was worried I wouldn’t have a good question, since Jerry told the audience that we didn’t need to tell him how much we loved him – some people did, and got a playful, sometimes annoyed Jerry to deal with, yet, to be fair, all of us there that night were used to “angry Jerry”, having seen much of his body of work.
When I rolled down to the stage, a grin began to form on Jerry’s face as if I was a ray of sunshine peaking through the clouds of people saying “I love you!” that was giving him a headache.
Loud enough for everyone to hear, he and I spoke.
“Hi Jerry!”, I said, not loudly, but louder than most of the others in the audience had been.
Jerry replied: “Hi, could you speak a little softer?”
I whispered, “okay”, and there was that sound I was looking for – LAUGHTER. I knew I had the audience’s attention now.
“Jerry, I don’t want to tell you I love you because you know that already, but my name is James Lacerenza, I have cerebral palsy and I’ve sent about 50 to 100 of your “kids” to camp. I just want you to know you’re my hero.”
The audience, without me asking, broke into applause for about 15 seconds, probably a bit longer.
“James”, Jerry said, “I remember you, yes. I know all about what you’ve done. Are you Italian?”
Of course, I said, “yes!”
Jerry uttered: “I can smell the garlic breath from here!”
A wave of laughter came from everyone, including me.
Jerry continued: “What’s your question, sweetheart?”
I replied: “I wanted to know what advice you had for me raising more money for the kids, and if you could give me a hug after the show.”
Then, the words I never thought I’d hear came from Jerry: “I’ll meet you backstage after the show to do exactly that.”
More applause followed, and my body and brain felt a mix of emotions: shock, happiness, nervousness, excitement, bliss, being extremely grateful and fortunate, all rolled into one. I also silently thanked my mother. I knew she had planned this somewhere in heaven.
A half hour later, after patiently waiting for the end of the show, in the dual basement and garbage room of the YMCA, the elevator door rolled open, and here came Jerry BLEEPING Lewis.
We shook hands as Jerry said, “I was looking for you! Where’d you go!”
I shot back: “Well, your crew made me hard to find, which isn’t easy most days.” A grin came over his face as he leaned in towards me and I grew serious in tone.
“So, what advice would you give me to raise money? I don’t want to be Jerry Lewis, I want to be James Lacerenza, but carry some of your compassion.”
“Well, that’s a good start, you have to be you and you also have to trust your gut”, Jerry chimed back.
“I want to just be a tenth as good as you at helping people. What else would you recommend?”, I asked.
“Don’t let anyone or anything negatively influence you. Try to surround yourself with positive people and thoughts and good things will happen. They already have!”, he exclaimed, referring to my previous years of work.
Jerry had to catch a bus to the Friars for his birthday dinner, but not before a hug, a kiss on the forehead, and one other request.
“Jerry”, I said, giddy with happiness – could we yell “HEY LADY” together?
And there it was, me and Jerry, smiling, laughing, and in a whiny, high pitched voice that we both knew how to do from all of his movies….there goes that “LAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY-DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”
“Remember what I said”, Lewis intoned as he gazed into my soul and I gazed back into his: “TRUST YOUR GUT and you’ll go far.”
From that moment on, my spirit, and for that matter, my stomach and all of its intestines, have never felt stronger.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
You Only Live Once
Guest Post - Haylee Prowse
Go ahead, text him first – he might be checking his phone, waiting for you.
Stare into the eyes of the guy you like – memorize the color.
Turn on your iPod and run as far as you can.
Say hi to a stranger – you never know what they’ll become for you.
Have a mental health day – you know you need it.
Don’t go on facebook for a day and see what you can accomplish.
Give money to a charity, call an old friend, your good karma will come around eventually.
Sneak out, you might get caught, but it’ll be 100% worth it.
Tell that one person that you like them, what’s the worst that can happen?
He doesn’t like you back? Then he doesn’t deserve you anyways, right?
Treat yourself to something indulgent, you deserve it.
Smile at a stranger, it could make their day.
Wink, it’s sexy and makes you feel confident. After all, you are pretty hot.
Go for somebody who is totally wrong for you, they may not be totally wrong after all.
Stand up for yourself, because if you don’t, who will?
Moral of the story is, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
Go ahead, text him first – he might be checking his phone, waiting for you.
Stare into the eyes of the guy you like – memorize the color.
Turn on your iPod and run as far as you can.
Say hi to a stranger – you never know what they’ll become for you.
Have a mental health day – you know you need it.
Don’t go on facebook for a day and see what you can accomplish.
Give money to a charity, call an old friend, your good karma will come around eventually.
Sneak out, you might get caught, but it’ll be 100% worth it.
Tell that one person that you like them, what’s the worst that can happen?
He doesn’t like you back? Then he doesn’t deserve you anyways, right?
Treat yourself to something indulgent, you deserve it.
Smile at a stranger, it could make their day.
Wink, it’s sexy and makes you feel confident. After all, you are pretty hot.
Go for somebody who is totally wrong for you, they may not be totally wrong after all.
Stand up for yourself, because if you don’t, who will?
Moral of the story is, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Do Things Differently
So this post is about doing things differently, something many of us don’t enjoy doing. If you do something in a different way than you are used to, you may think that only increases your chances of failure. But it truly does much better things for you. By doing things differently you can look at life from a different perspective. By doing things differently you can possibly find your true calling that you never knew existed before. How do I know this? I’ve been doing things differently my entire life.
When I get up in the morning I cannot get myself dressed or into my chair. I need to rely on either my parents or my nurse to assist me in all of that. Once I am downstairs, my parents or my nurse have to help feed me breakfast and give me my medicine. On weekdays, my nurse has to drive me to school and stay with me at college the entire day. My nurse and my parents mostly have to be my arms and legs for me. If I need a drink of water, someone has to get it for me and put a a straw in it so that I can drink it. If I need a snack, someone has to get it for me. If my arm falls off of my armrest, someone has to put it back on the armrest for me. If I want to use my computer, my little brother has to help me put my hands on the table and push the table closer to me so that I can reach my laptop. If I need to be dropped off somewhere, my parents have to drive me there.
But there are also many things that I do on my own differently. When I am typing this blog post, I have to use the part of my fingers on the back of my hand instead of the part on the palm of my hand since my hands are so tight. When I eat, I have to avoid foods that are too chewy or tough to eat since I have the risk of choking. When I want to turn the page in a textbook I try to turn it with my pencil by sticking it in between the next two pages and moving it to the left. When I want to do anything at all I have to think of different ways of doing it and be patient with myself. These things may change my appearance, such as my feet splints and my wheelchair, but they also make me a stronger person.
I’ve been able to learn how to be patient with myself and people around me. I’ve been able to learn what the truly important things in life. I’ve been able to learn how to look past someone’s appearance and see the person they truly are inside. I’ve been able to listen to people when they talk about a problem they are having since I have been through a lot myself and I know how good it feels for someone to just listen. I’ve been able to keep on trudging on through life even when it seems there is nothing worth living for. I’ve been able to turn failure into a lesson to be learned, and many of those lessons I share here on my blog in the past 49 posts. Finally, I’ve been able to learn that Optimism is the best thing for not only me, but everyone else. Hence, my blog was able to begin and become what it is today. My blog was able to reach over 14,000 visitors from around the world in what will be a year in only two weeks. Now if doing things differently can make my life better, imagine what it can do for you.
When I get up in the morning I cannot get myself dressed or into my chair. I need to rely on either my parents or my nurse to assist me in all of that. Once I am downstairs, my parents or my nurse have to help feed me breakfast and give me my medicine. On weekdays, my nurse has to drive me to school and stay with me at college the entire day. My nurse and my parents mostly have to be my arms and legs for me. If I need a drink of water, someone has to get it for me and put a a straw in it so that I can drink it. If I need a snack, someone has to get it for me. If my arm falls off of my armrest, someone has to put it back on the armrest for me. If I want to use my computer, my little brother has to help me put my hands on the table and push the table closer to me so that I can reach my laptop. If I need to be dropped off somewhere, my parents have to drive me there.
But there are also many things that I do on my own differently. When I am typing this blog post, I have to use the part of my fingers on the back of my hand instead of the part on the palm of my hand since my hands are so tight. When I eat, I have to avoid foods that are too chewy or tough to eat since I have the risk of choking. When I want to turn the page in a textbook I try to turn it with my pencil by sticking it in between the next two pages and moving it to the left. When I want to do anything at all I have to think of different ways of doing it and be patient with myself. These things may change my appearance, such as my feet splints and my wheelchair, but they also make me a stronger person.
I’ve been able to learn how to be patient with myself and people around me. I’ve been able to learn what the truly important things in life. I’ve been able to learn how to look past someone’s appearance and see the person they truly are inside. I’ve been able to listen to people when they talk about a problem they are having since I have been through a lot myself and I know how good it feels for someone to just listen. I’ve been able to keep on trudging on through life even when it seems there is nothing worth living for. I’ve been able to turn failure into a lesson to be learned, and many of those lessons I share here on my blog in the past 49 posts. Finally, I’ve been able to learn that Optimism is the best thing for not only me, but everyone else. Hence, my blog was able to begin and become what it is today. My blog was able to reach over 14,000 visitors from around the world in what will be a year in only two weeks. Now if doing things differently can make my life better, imagine what it can do for you.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Art from the Heart
Guest Post - Corinne Romano
When growing up each of us develop our own coping skills for life. Sometimes coping skills can come from exercise, writing, or talking it out; however for me personally I found my bliss in art.
When growing up each of us develop our own coping skills for life. Sometimes coping skills can come from exercise, writing, or talking it out; however for me personally I found my bliss in art.
For as long as I can
remember I draw to make myself happy. My
go to emotional stabilizer is art, when I’m stressed, depressed or even
ecstatic, I create. From day one my
parents have encouraged my overactive imagination. Art has gotten me through my toughest trials
of life.
A little more than a year
ago I tore my ACL and was told I wouldn’t be able to move for at least two
months, and walking/running would take at least six. While I was bed ridden I decided to do
anything I could to help make progress.
So I set myself up with
sketchbooks, pens and my best jewelry making equipment. In that time, I created some of the most
original and beautiful pieces of jewelry I could imagine. After building up a collection of my pieces I
had worked clear through my boredom and pain.
I was off my pain medications from surgery within three days, and
because I could do my physical therapy while working I had the ability to walk
in under a month. My final recovery time
took me only five months. Doctors were
amazed at my more than speedy recovery.
I’ve concluded that if I’m not working I’m unhappy.
A few months later I had my
first relationship. Things were more
than amazing for most of our time together.
During my happiest days I had worked on my AP studio portfolio. Because I was so happy to be working and to
have a companion, I poured more of myself into that project than I ever thought
I would.
I ended
up getting a very high grade on my final portfolio. However, when we did eventually break up I
was a mess. When I didn’t want to talk,
eat or even breathe I turned back to my drawing boards. During my time of grief I worked through it
creating outlandish creatures and worlds that lay hidden deep inside my
imagination. Emotionally that was one of
the hardest times of my life. I had
receded into myself and the only signs of life I showed was my production of
art. When I finally came out of it I had
monstrous creations with epic detailing and character backgrounds to match.
However,
moving on from my issues, making art is only half the joy. While making a picture or sculpture is
rewarding, the real joy is seeing other people react to my art. There’s nothing more exciting than watching
people’s face light up when they see my pictures. They may laugh at my comics or just be amazed
at my natural talent.
People
ask me all the time how I get so good at art.
The truth is, I just practice all the time. Literally every second of the day I’m
imagining new things, creatures, characters, worlds, I just breathe art. Recently my imagination has taken my art to
the next level. Now when I stare idly
out into space my brain draws on blank walls.
I can see the images in my head as if they were actually painted on the
walls. The way I see it its almost like
having superpowers.
So if
you’re an aimless doodler, or a wide-eyed dreamer, art is a tool we can all use
to make our lives better. Just getting
things out on a page can be the difference between bottling up stress or grief,
and releasing your demons so you can move on with your life. And there is no greater gift than finding
someone that can see what you feel behind the artwork. For me, that feeling is freedom.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Key to Happiness
My friend asked me the other day,
“Is there a key to happiness,
That lasts from day to day?”
From the point of view,
I see the world,
All I could do was laugh,
“It’s simple really”
I declared,
“Just follow your dream path.”
Be yourself,
And you will see,
How truly happy,
You can be,
Follow your dreams,
Follow your heart,
Believe in yourself,
But that’s just the start,
Because the truth about happiness,
It’s a complex art.
The world is your canvas,
And there’s no need to rush,
Your hopes and dreams,
Make up the paint upon your brush,
The only problem,
That you will find,
Is that the brush is on a shelf so high,
You climb and jump into the sky,
To reach the brush,
You try and try,
But always fall back down,
The only way to stay aloft,
Is to make a smile out of that frown.
And when you finally,
Paint your masterpiece,
You’ll want to paint another,
One with brighter colors,
More beautiful than the first,
Now that you’ve had a sip of happiness,
It’ll be hard to quench your thirst.
You’ll pass on your talent,
To a sister,
Or a brother,
And they will love it so much,
They’ll pass it to another,
Sooner or later,
The world will become,
A place where happiness,
Is seen in everyone.
Your happiness,
Your smile,
Your thoughts,
In a brightened world,
Makes the flag of optimism,
Be the one thing that’s unfurled,
So let’s paint a picture every day,
Showing happiness is here to stay.
My friend had a response to this,
I think I remember how it would go,
“Although you write those words of truth,
I must admit this so,
Sometimes you try to share your happiness,
With someone that you know,
You see the smiles on the outside,
As they hide their pain from you,
They don’t want to burden,
Your happiness that is new.”
And all that I can say to this,
I hope one day,
They will find,
The key to happiness.
“Is there a key to happiness,
That lasts from day to day?”
From the point of view,
I see the world,
All I could do was laugh,
“It’s simple really”
I declared,
“Just follow your dream path.”
Be yourself,
And you will see,
How truly happy,
You can be,
Follow your dreams,
Follow your heart,
Believe in yourself,
But that’s just the start,
Because the truth about happiness,
It’s a complex art.
The world is your canvas,
And there’s no need to rush,
Your hopes and dreams,
Make up the paint upon your brush,
The only problem,
That you will find,
Is that the brush is on a shelf so high,
You climb and jump into the sky,
To reach the brush,
You try and try,
But always fall back down,
The only way to stay aloft,
Is to make a smile out of that frown.
And when you finally,
Paint your masterpiece,
You’ll want to paint another,
One with brighter colors,
More beautiful than the first,
Now that you’ve had a sip of happiness,
It’ll be hard to quench your thirst.
You’ll pass on your talent,
To a sister,
Or a brother,
And they will love it so much,
They’ll pass it to another,
Sooner or later,
The world will become,
A place where happiness,
Is seen in everyone.
Your happiness,
Your smile,
Your thoughts,
In a brightened world,
Makes the flag of optimism,
Be the one thing that’s unfurled,
So let’s paint a picture every day,
Showing happiness is here to stay.
My friend had a response to this,
I think I remember how it would go,
“Although you write those words of truth,
I must admit this so,
Sometimes you try to share your happiness,
With someone that you know,
You see the smiles on the outside,
As they hide their pain from you,
They don’t want to burden,
Your happiness that is new.”
And all that I can say to this,
I hope one day,
They will find,
The key to happiness.
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