Category Archives: It was written.

Worry about yourself in 2012

Worry about yourself in 2012

This is probably the most sage piece of advice I can give you: this year, just worry about yourself.

Don’t worry about who’s doing what and how with whom and where. Don’t worry about how they paid for it, fit in it or where they keep it at night. Don’t worry about how they got it, why they got it or what it is. Don’t worry about who they’re with, if they deserve them or will they keep them.

Do not concern yourself with the realness, the fakeness, the morality or immorality, the wrong or the right anyone else’s life. Stop worrying about things that you don’t understand or don’t agree with, especially when they aren’t your business to begin with.

If we spend our time worrying about ourselves: what we’re doing and how we’re living and breathing and feeling and relating and parenting and loving and being good stewards and not smelling musty, brushing our teeth and cleaning behind our ears, I promise you we could all have super productive lives. But far too often, we ignore our own business to tend to other folks business. How you burn your own dinner minding someone else’s?

That’s all I have. That’s my new year’s message. Live the best life you can and worry about yourself.

final thoughts

final thoughts

There is no substitute for the one you love.

There is no one who can make you
feel better
or smile brighter
or laugh louder
or be more alive

When they move on, it feels like dying
That’s what I know.

Someone will be good enough
to get by.
Not amazing
Not brilliant
Not dazzling
Good enough
And I will choose him.
We will be happy enough.

But I know the truth.
This life won’t be as sweet
Without you.

Equinox (right in this world)

Equinox (right in this world)

I put it on the table
Every
fact, feeling, fear, fable
Lay them down so you can
See only me

I never promised to be graceful
Only woman
Only living
Only trying
That’s all I have

I met a kindred you
And you heard me when you
Said you didn’t
I mimed my heart
and you
Broke it carefully
I want to thank you

I show my hand
Awkwardly
Plaintively
I lay my soul bare
Because I miss my friend.

How I Got Over

How I Got Over

You want to begin at the beginning?* I had a car accident today. Rear ended a lady. And to Oprah’s pleasure, I wasn’t on the phone. Lots of brake slamming in front of me, plus general traffic. Just an accident. I’m fine. They’re fine. The cars are mostly fine. Those things happen.

But it shook me a little. I’m calm by nature in those types of situations. I called my insurance company and had them email me a new proof of insurance. I called my dad and we talked a bit. When the officer finally got there, he asked me what happened and I said “Well, I hit her.” It wasn’t until afterward, once I had a sweet tea and few minutes alone, that I came up with my lesson.

I really tried to brake. I’ve actually never had an accident before. But physics wasn’t on my side. I slid into the obstacle. The analogy is consistent with my life. I’ve been staring at the reality of my 30th birthday for a while now. A few months ago, I came to terms with the fact that even though I haven’t done some of the things I thought I’d do by now, I’m still going to turn 30, if the Lord says the same. I’m going to slide into that obstacle despite my attempts to alter the course or slow things down. It’s not really an obstacle. I don’t mind getting older. It’s kind of exciting. But it’s different than I thought it would be.

So what am I going to do? Well, I’m going to work on doing some of the things I wanted to accomplish. I’m going to set some new, revised goals. And I’m going to forget about some of them because they weren’t any good for me. Slowly, but surely, I’ll revise my life. That’s the way this story goes, I think: a constant draft, always in need of revision.

Do you know what today is? I used to say it was my birthday too, but it isn’t. My birthday is in November and this is just another day. That’s how I know I’m getting over.

You know what else? As much as I’ve grown tired of my pursuit of a M.Ed., I did my homework today. I read a book. I’m kind of close now to just stop. That too is how I know I’m getting over.

I guess all I’m saying is that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, in a lot of ways. And that is something to be thankful for.