40 Lessons

Lent: My Journey in 2014

Lesson one is a start

For purification of my heart

No is an important word for me to say

At a young age, it was taken away

Every yes I've ever uttered has been meaningless

For without learning how to empower my no, how could I ever mean yes

I've tried to say no, then felt guilty, disrespected myself, and given away my power

I embrace and reclaim my right to say no, mean no, and respect it this very hour

 

Lesson two is pure honesty

Wisdom from my student after a lesson on integrity

"Struggle is real" are the words he spoke

Allow those words to settle in and bring you hope

Strength, courage, peace I find on my own path

When I've tried following another's, my soul has become engorged with wrath

Seeking without has all been for naught

For when I fail to center within, my spirit begins to rot

 

Lesson three is remember to breathe

Be majestic when learning to be

Keep my head up and look ahead

The past is gone and I've buried my dead

 

Lesson four is take a stand against injustice

Do not turn a blind eye in the name of tolerance

The blessing of saying no extends beyond me and beyond you

Let go, make room, listen to God teach you what is true

All around us people selfishly seek for more

Striving to materialistically keep up with others or settle a score

What I need is to consciously lift my voice

Living in simplicity is my choice

 

Lesson five is do it now

Choose one thing to let go and make a vow

To take one step forward and then another

Disallow your dreams, the past to smother

 

Lesson six is choose wisely

Take time and consider carefully

Who and what, my circle, I let inside

Shine brightly, and in myself, take Pride

Listen to my healing dreams

Release what disturbs my sense of serene

 

Lesson seven is learn to filter and keep a listening ear

Maintain a poker face and be hesitant to interfere

Though I may wish to state my thoughts

Silence at times, is the best battle fought

 

Lesson eight is I cannot save another

Not even the one who calls me mother

I must learn to see you as separate from me

With your own distinct identity

 

Lesson nine is to pay the price

What seems free is a roll of the dice

To everything there is a cost

Guard your integrity for it is easily lost

 

Lesson ten is focus on my circle and those inside

Allow myself my tears to cry

Live in truth and not denial

My life is mine and I own each mile

 

Lesson eleven is cease to worry

Life is a journey and I've no reason to hurry

Stressing about what's out of my control

Rather I need tranquility and to search my soul

 

Lesson twelve is confront my pain

Embrace the growth and the change

This life is mine to lead as I choose

Forgive those who judge or through gossip abuse

 

Lesson thirteen is disallow anyone to get under your skin

That only leads to an infectious condition

I care about my identity and my life

And must listen within to determine who and what is worth sacrifice

 

Lesson fourteen is put yourself in uncomfortable places

Do not allow another's soul to become lost in a sea of faces

If you pay attention, you can have transformational impact

All you have to do is be aware and make the decision to act

Another lesson for this life changing and grief-filled day

Is in kindness and humility choose to stay

At times we make choices and are called to the carpet

Repent up front and as for accountability, simply own it

 

Lesson fifteen is put differences aside

We all have battle scars and raw insides

When I have time to volunteer

I shall indeed assist my peers

I may not like you, not one tiny bit

What does that matter when tragedy hits

I can wisely keep the big picture in mind

And gain a little practice in being superficially kind

 

Lesson sixteen is be thankful for the times you have had

When it's ended too soon do not become bitter or sad

Be someone fun to be around

Radiate joy and turn someone's frown upside down

Though you can't take away the piercing pain

When a hole in your heart or someone else's remains

By momentarily setting aside your own grief

You can make a difference and bring another relief

 

Lesson seventeen is think it through before you speak

We all have moments when we feel weak

Be cautious when allowing your fears to be spoken

Sometimes through doubt, love becomes broken

 

Lesson eighteen is never settle for less than the love you deserve

Find someone who your Spirit and heart seeks to protect, honor, and serve

Allow the light inside of you to brightly shine

To everything there is a season and time

 

Lesson nineteen is keep the faith

Eventually everything will be okay

We all have moments when we walk through fire

But love allows us, from the flames, to rise higher

 

Lesson twenty is embrace your power

This life is yours so be true every hour

Nobody but you can walk your path for you

So allow yourself to do what you want to

 

Lesson twenty-one is do not cast your pearls before swine

Many to their own hypocrisy are quite blind

I can follow Christ and be a witch too

And I don't care if it makes sense to you

 

Lesson twenty-two is everyone has a choice to make

Of what they can give and what they can take

To be a friend it's never too late

When you care enough to open the gate

 

Lesson twenty-three is be patient and wait

Relax, let go, and trust in fate

Honor your process and have some fun

You'll move forward when your grieving is done

 

Lesson twenty-four is take a time-out

Especially when your path becomes clouded with doubt

It's just fine to take a break

Contemplation is healthy when it's your life at stake

 

Lesson twenty-five is all answers lie in our hands

Once we take time to focus on God and understand

That in order to gain what we truly need

All we have to do is be open and willing to receive

 

Lesson twenty-six is learn to manage my time

Instead of withering away seeking a sign

I need to keep my eyes forward and make this journey

Becoming the person I am choosing to be

 

Lesson twenty-seven is forget perfection

It's vain and petty I have discovered after years of reflection

Sometimes good enough is more than okay

My imperfections make me unique in a beautiful way

 

Lesson twenty-eight is listen to the wisdom around you

Many have words to share that are true

Like you cannot get water from a dry well

And often only time will tell

 

Lesson twenty-nine is people exist whose mission in life is power and control

They only desire to play games and seek to destroy your soul

So never invest less in yourself than you invest in others

Everyone will eventually show their true colors

 

Lesson thirty is reject all of the many labels

That others use in an attempt to lock you in a stable

My body may be what you seek to define

but my body is not a sacred shrine

To experience who I am you must see beneath

My Spirit the athame and my body its sheath

 

Lesson thirty-one is never let anyone in too quick

I am intense and many lack both the courage and the wit

To keep up at my brisk and joyful pace

And soon I see their vulnerabilities as terror creeps across their face

 

Lesson thirty-two is tune out everything

Just for five minutes a day so you can hear the divine ring

Into your heart and mind bringing the gift of tranquility

And contemplate the greater need of your attention with all of your capability

 

Lesson thirty-three is focus completely on one thing at a time

When my plate is overflowing make up my mind

To take care of myself and do my very best

God will always take care of the rest

 

Lesson thirty-four is look in the mirror

See yourself for who you really are and release the fear

I am experienced enough now to make my own rules

I can jump into either the shallow or deep end of life's swimming pool

 

Lesson thirty-five is listen to a person's words and watch their actions

Choose to face others with a heart full of compassion

Live in awareness of your wants and your needs

With humility and truth you will succeed

 

Lesson thirty-six is enjoy each moment of a thrilling ride

Wisely choose in whom to invest your heart and your time

Be honest when telling another your intention is not to stay

That way you have no guilt on the day you powerfully choose to walk away

 

Lesson thirty-seven is paste a smile on my pretty face

My pain is my responsibility to erase

Be cautious with whom I choose to play

I'm always left with scars when I choose to walk away

 

Lesson thirty-eight is I want to see love in another's eyes

I want to be another's sunrise

Not their sunset

Lust only leads to regret

 

Lesson thirty-nine is take time to smell the flowers

Living fully in the present channeling your power

Lovingly discover every facet of your humanity

Continue on your journey of evolving authenticity

 

Lesson forty is be self aware and know your intention

Deliberately take a slow pace and be hesitant to invest attention

Allow someone else to invest themselves and seek you out

Open yourself to new possibilities and in yourself never doubt

Reviews

[Ifreakinloveyou]

The way you structured this is awesome, and I love that there's a lesson for everyday of Lent, awesome :)

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thank you for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed.

[melissa]

This really amazing poem keep up the great work and keep sending me more to read i love reading them

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thank you for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed!

[melissa]

Your welcome

[Coyote Poetry]

I like 29 lessons. You are very wise. I have books written by Kahlil Gibran and Robert Schuller. Both believe in the common sense of your words. Thank you for sharing the your thoughts and your wisdom.
Coyote

[FlamingPhoenix]

You are most welcome Coyote! I will have to check out those authors ;-). Please feel free to revisit as this piece is a work in progress until I have all 40 Lessons!

[Coyote Poetry]

I will. Please send read request if you can.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

This reads like a blue print for life. If we could only live upto half the wisdom in this piece I feel the world would be a better place all round.
SOoooooo impressed. and somewhat humbled.
Clive.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Aw! What a nice review! Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. Please feel free to revisit as this piece is a work in progress until I have reached the end of Lent and have all 40 lessons.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

In the immortal words of the terminator. I'LL BE BACK.

[Bright Ocean Star]

Phoenix, did you tweak it? It still sounds amazing. I love it! Great work....:)

[FlamingPhoenix]

I took out the dates and some unnecessary lines, but the content and message remains the same--though I am continuing to add to it.

[MBUYISA]

wow this poem is nice and very well planned

i like the rhyme .......i ended up singing while reading it ...
i know that is not the reason you wrote it
but good reads
Thanks again ( ^_^)

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed. I have been told I should find a musician to put music to some of my rhymes ;-)

[MBUYISA]

That would be a good idea.
I'll like to hear that song.

[Jess K]

I really enjoyed reading these, they make me reflect on life, I liked # 22 the best, thank you for sharing them.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thank you! I'm glad you found one that meant something to you. When this piece is finished, I'll have 40--so please feel free to revisit.

[Lyn Anderson]

This is absolutely amazing, I want to bring it to my anxiety group, can I? And one totally minor grammar thing, just to let you know I actually read it, Lesson twenty two, a to is missing an O

[FlamingPhoenix]

Absolutely and you're right about the too -- I'll correct it soon!

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece. I will bring it to group therapy next week.

[Frieda P]

Wow, love your pearls of wisdom, how did you get to be so smart? I'm printing this out and plastering it to my forehead as a reminder, especially 13. Awe inspiring read, brava!

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Every day I add a new lesson--all the way through each 40 days of Lent. I find the process of looking to each day to learn something new a bit transformational.

[Frieda P]

Sounds way more productive than giving up candy, my pleasure.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I love this! I love the whole concept. Your thoughts are personal and intimate, but empowering and magical. The more I read poets like you, the more I realize that I am not worthy to spit shine your shoes. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work. 100/100

[FlamingPhoenix]

The temptation to be hard on ourselves is great and I often feel the same way when I read others' work. I simply strive to bare my soul honestly--poetry is at times the only way I can express what I feel inside or experience, as I have so few in my life who either desire to listen or seek to understand. The truth is if anything I write touches another then I have succeeded--whether that touch be allowing them to see something in themselves that they need to reflect upon or some feeling of amusement.

[Bright Ocean Star]

Thank you for sharing your work with us. I enjoy reading and learning from all of you. It is a pleasure to read your stuff. Thanks again.