GREAT POEMS |
I hope you have heard about Matthew Stepanek (Mattie). If not, please read about
him in www.oprah.com and read some of his amazing poems. He was truly and inspiration and this world
is a better place because of him. Mattie passed away on June 22nd, 2004 from complications
related to the disease that weakened most of his body's major functions
(a rare neuromuscular disease called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy). He wrote "Heartsongs", "Celebrate Through Heartsongs", "Journey Through Heartsongs",
"Hope Through Heartsongs" and "Loving Through Heartsongs". I know you will
enjoy his work. I'm also including other special poems that I like and that
I hope you also enjoy as much as I do. Take time to read some poems and other inspirational
messages once in a while - it helps us feel better about our lives... On Being A Champion A champion is a winner, A hero… Someone who never gives up Even when the going gets rough. A champion is a member of A winning team… Someone who overcomes challenges Even when it requires creative solutions A champion is an optimist, A hopeful spirit… Someone who plays the game, Even when the game is called life… Especially when the game is called life. There can be a champion in each of us, If we live as a winner, If we live as a member of the team, If we live with a hopeful spirit, For life September 1999 ~ © Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (From the book "Journey Through Heartsongs") For Our World We need to stop. Just stop. Stop for a moment… Before anybody Says or does anything That may hurt anyone else. We need to be silent. Just silent. Silent for a moment… Before we forever lose The blessing of songs That grow in our hearts. We need to notice. Just notice. Notice for a moment… Before the future slips away Into ashes and dust of humility. Stop, be silent, and notice… In so many ways, we are the same. Our differences are unique treasures. We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts To nurture, to offer, to accept. We need to be. Just be. Be for a moment… Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting, Like children and lambs, Never judging or vengeful Like the judging and vengeful. And now, let us pray, Differently, yet together, Before there is no earth, no life, No chance for peace. September 12, 2001 ~ © Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (Please check www.mattieonline.com) Make The Present Beautiful One day at a time - This is enough. Do not look back And grieve over the past For it is gone; And do not be troubled About the future, For it has not yet come. Live in the present, And make it so beautiful That it will be Worth remembering... ~ Ida Scott Taylor (1820 - 1915) (From a poster. Check www.cskishore.com/posters.htm) I Belong I belong to the human race, but more importantly, I belong to a spiritual race; where there are no color, language or social barriers. From this vantage point I see myself as a link in the chain of life; A chain that will be as weak or as strong as me... To make sure that the chain is strong, I make myself strong. I know that I am strong when I am happy, so I do what makes me happy. I ask myself what happiness means to me, and I realize that it is love, peace and harmony. I think of how I can achieve them, and the answer is clear: I want love, so I give love I want peace, so I give peace I want harmony, so I wish for all what I wish for myself; I wish only well. ~ © Carmen Colombo (wowzone.com) 1996 Keep Believing In Yourself There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be. That's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down, but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, and to keep your life focused on believing in yourself and all that you are capable of. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them. Constantly keep yourself headed in the right directions for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are, and you will also see yourself developing into the person you have always wanted to be. Life is a journey through time, filled with many choices; each of us will experience life in our own special way. So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be, because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the dreams that you know are meant to come true for you. ~ Unknown Listen To Your Heart We all want to make things better in our lives, but lots of times we just don't know where or when to begin. Sometimes we are troubled about something deep inside, and we are afraid of dealing with our problems because we've been hurt before, and we remember what hurts can bring. Making things better involves changing but change isn't such a terrible thing. Life isn't always easy. No one ever promised that it would be. But it can be wonderful at times, and it is up to us to make those times happen. Where? Beginning within, When? With the dawn of each new day. How? Listen to your heart... and it really will show you the way. ~ Collin McCarty Remember Today Remember today that your are alive. Sometimes we tend to forget. You have a purpose that is all your own. No one else is you. You have dreams and hopes and desires. Listen to your heart for a while. Remember today all the blessings you have. There's beauty in every direction you look. Enjoy the abundance that is already yours. The world is a wonderful place and you're here. Remember today that you get what you give. Your world is a mirror of your inner self. Love will be yours when you give it away. Remember today that life is creation. As long as you live you can always contribute your own special voice. Remember today is a special time. Make the best of it while you can. ~ Unknown Promise Yourself To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel they are unique and special people. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. Listen To Your Heart If you can live the life that you believe in you will have everything you need to reach your dream. Just look into your heart and you'll find confidence in yourself that will make each challenge easier to face... You'll discover the hope that will keep you believing... you'll find an inner strength that will help you past obstacles... and you'll see the happiness that's waiting for you if you keep trying... The struggle for any dream is always worth the effort, For in the struggle lies its strength and fulfillment... If you listen to your heart you will reach your dream ~ Larry S. Chengges Do Not... Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special. Do not set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you. Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life. For without them, life is meaningless Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life. Do not give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. Do not dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope, To be without hope is to be without purpose. ~ Unknown ACCEPT ME I am I Do not change me Condemn me Nor put me down Accept me for what I am No…you need not agree with me But Accept Me For I am total in being I have my faults I have my guilts But that is who I am Perfect I will never be Allow me to be uninhibited Do not pressure me into feeling What I do not feel Accept Me when I am flying high As I have accepted you when You were flying high Do not put me down... Nor make me unhappy about me I am I And I like being what I am… Me ~ Larry S. Chengges Make a Rainbow If your world looks gloomy and you're feeling grim and glum make a rainbow for yourself, don't wait for one to come. Don't sit watching at the window for the clouds to part. There'll soon be a rainbow if you start one in your heart. Take some lovely thought out of a poem or a prayer. Turn it over in your mind and let it linger there. Keep out every memory that dims the light within. And hold on to the magic word that lets the brightness in. Work your own small miracle and make the dull days glow. Put some sunshine into life and let the glory show. Make a rainbow for yourself with colors brave and gay. And underneath its golden arch your cares will fade away. ~ Patience Strong For Those Who Believe All Is Possible There are no miracles for those who doubt their possibilities... But for those who believe - truly believe... all is possible. Whatever you may have believed; whatever you may have done; and whatever you may be in your life - it's not too late to change course and begin anew... A fresh start, a bright future and the wonderful peace that passes all understanding, are yours for the taking, now and forever more! ~ Larry S. Chengges (Also check: www.netpoets.com/poems/teenlife/1035001.htm for more great poems!) Lessons Learned We cannot, at any time Consider ourselves victims in this life No matter how hard this may be. When we assume the role of victims We remain stuck in a nightmare In a whirlwind of negative experiences That will only bring us more suffering and more challenges We need to learn to Concentrate in the positive in our lives In the good that we have - that is so much! Let's leave the past in the past And let's make of our present something really good Always dreaming of a better future Full of happiness and with everything we desire And having faith that our wishes will come true, because we deserve the good gifts of life Let's go on… With positive thoughts and attitudes To change our world To create a beautiful reality Our thoughts Our intentions Our actions Create our life Let's not forget that… Life is like a game Let's win it! ~ Karol B. Feld (Translated from my Spanish Poem: "Lecciones Aprendidas" - 12/10/05) You Never Know... You never know when someone might catch a dream from you. Or something you say may open up the windows of a mind that seeks light; The way you live may not matter at all, but you never know, it might. And just in case it could be that another's life, through you, might possibly change for the better with a better and brighter view, it seems it might be worth a try at pointing the way to the right; Of course, it may not matter at all, but then again, it might… you never know. ~ Unknown |
