PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

The other day in the bookstore…this I truly believe

I was blessed with one of the nicest compliments I have ever received.

I just opened the bookstore…a new day had begun

when a mother walked in smiling…right behind her was her son.

She said her son remembered me from the last time they were in the store

(can you imagine that!)

and he wanted to come in and say hi…to that nice man in the hat.

She said, you probably don’t remember us…

“Of course I do. I made him an origami frog.” I said.

“Yes!” She smiled his name is Miller and he keeps it next to his bed.”

I smiled and said ‘Hi Miller!”  

He smiled, said hi while waving his little hand in the air…

then they headed to our Children’s section 

where Mom read him a book as he sat in his favorite chair.

She bought the book and I had a chance to look Miller in the eye 

when we both smiled at one another as we said goodbye.

This got me thinking about the power of kindness…

how we never know…

when it comes to small act of kindness

how far that that kindness will go.

How it could begin with a simple act…the tiniest of threads

like a little origami frog…that sleeps next to a bed…

As far as Miller goes I can’t think of anything sweeter than that…

And as for me…

I can’t think of a better way to be thought of…

Than that nice man in the hat.

I am grateful for the simple wisdom

in this African proverb 

that declares:

Happiness in not perfected…

until that happiness is shared

May we be blessed to take a little time

to think about the words of the poet James Oppenheim

He lived and died before the internet…

or today you could read them a tweet….

Foolish people seek happiness in the distance

Wise ones grow it…under their feet.

Some random thoughts this Monday…

as as you head out on your way:

Not every day is wonderful…

but there is wonder in every day.

Not all you see is beautiful…

but there is beauty in all you see.

Something I hope you realize before this day is done

Not everyone you meet will be kind… 

but there is kindness in everyone.

Finally…

Happiness is not always on the surface…

but oftentimes behind it….

waiting patiently for someone like you

with a heart…accepting enough to find it.

I am grateful for my Granddad…

Who gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever had:

Waiting around for someone else to make you happy

is the best way to be sad.

Today I’m grateful for cupcakes…

although I know cupcakes can’t cure all the sadness on the Earth…

they do have a way of bringing a little happiness 

a little joy

a little mirth…

Because 

with all my years of experience I’ve come to understand…

it is difficult to be unhappy…

with a cupcake in my hand.

Of all the people we have known in our life

through all the years…across all the miles

may we take a moment today

and think of as many of them as we can

who have ever…blessed us with their smile

As the pendulum of life toward sorrow and sadness swings…

I find it’s beneficial take a moment…and think of happy things. 

Rainbows, ladybugs, traveling….buying a magazine from an old newsstand

balloons, sunsets, picnics…walking barefoot in the sand. 

Lunch with friends, a starry night…the beauty of a flower

walking in the rain, a picnic…singing in the shower.

Sharing a kiss a hug, a touch…eating warm syrupy pancakes…

opening a letter from a friend…skipping stones across a lake.

Taking a dog for a walk, watching the ocean flow and ebb

blowing bubbles, rocking on a porch, surfing the world wide web.

Reading a good book, listening to my favorite song..

not caring who is watching as I dance and sing along.

Playing games with my family…watching squirrels play tag among the trees,

the smell of a campfire burning…the gentleness of a summer breeze.

S’mores, pizza, chocolate covered peanuts…eating apple pie à la mode.

finding an old TV show…re-watching my favorite episode….

Spending an afternoon in a museum, licking an ice cream cone with my tongue

walking hand in hand down memory lane…remembering when we were young.

Yes, times like these…when people seem determined to tear each other apart

I find it’s soothing to take a moment and express the joy within my heart…

To remind myself there is joy in the world…and if I want that pendulum to swing 

back to joy then I must do my best to fill the world with happy things. 

May we be blessed…

especially in this time of political upheaval and strife 

To give every day, as Mark Twain suggested,

A chance to become the most beautiful day in our life.