Tag: poem

Keeping Things Private

We live in a social media generation, especially for the newer generation. Social media can be great for keeping up with friends, staying up to date of what is going on, that is how some people get their news, and just overall broadcasting information to share. Social media can also become addictive and too informative, hence tmi which stands for too much information. There are days when I use social media a lot and there are days when I do not use it all that much. I know that it varies from person to person. Broadcasting your business does not mean necessarily doing it on social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It could mean telling your friends, family and people you know.

I have learned that there are at least some things to stay private about. In fact, I believe there are at least three things that should be on the down low, which means that it is pretty much a secret and it stays between you/someone else or between you/yourself. Here is a quote explaining those three things. “Always keep your love life, bank account and next move private.” I happen to agree with it, especially as I have gotten older. I have made mistakes in terms of these, but I have gotten slightly better about them over the years. It is true that people begin speculating, but it is okay to let them speculate. The truth is that they do not have to know everything about you.

I think this is especially is important if you are in a romantic relationship because what happens if you are in a relationship, especially a new one, and something happens like you break up, but people know about it anyways. That is no good. It sometimes, in a sense, puts a jinx on your relationships. I made that mistake with my first and only boyfriend, so far. I have learned this from previous experience and my older sister has been a role model/inspiration. This also goes with almost everything in life. People should know some things about you, but you should keep some mystery. The only exception, my case and some other peoples cases is the best friend. This is the one person we tell almost everything to. She is one of the few people I trust completely. That person is the one exception, but sometimes there are things that person does not know and that is perfectly okay.

That is why you have to be careful who you tell your business to because yes, there are people who you can trust, but there are also people who you should never trust because they are just looking for gossip and rumors to be spread around. They want to get into your business. It is like being protective of yourself and setting up boundaries. It keeps yourself and sanity safe as well as protected. It is like protecting your identity and what you do. Yes, I do post some personal stuff, especially on this blog, but I do not talk about people specifically by name unless they are that important to me and when a lot of people know who they are. I guess all of this comes from having a big family, especially on my mom’s side of the family. I will leave you all with one more quote to sum it all up. “Nothing ever comes from too many people knowing your business. Being private and low-key is the best way to be.” Cheers everybody!

Keeping Things Private

Keeping things on the down low
Between you and me because
Not everybody has to know.

People try to sink their claws
Into us but they only want
The latest gossip. Their jaws

Hit the floor but nothing will haunt
Them more than not being able to
Know the real truth. Do not flaunt

What should stay private even when you
Make the next move, they should not always
Know that either. Protect what is brand new.

Let my complicated life be my maze.
I do not need people to enter their
Own commentary. It really pays

To be careful because some swear
To be faithful and secretive while others
Are just looking to pick you bare.

Why I Write

I have been writing poetry for as long as I could remember. I date it back to middle school when we wrote poems for English class. It has stuck with me ever since then. I always credit my 8th grade English teacher, Mr. Rose, for encouraging me to keep writing. People must wonder why I write, especially poetry.

The answer is very complex, but it makes sense to people who are the closest to me and it obviously makes complete sense to one person…That person would be me. I do not write poetry just for the heck of it, although I write a lot when I have nothing else to do. I write it for myself. I write it because it helps me make sense of what I am feeling, especially deep down inside. For other people, it is like writing in a journal or listening to music. It is therapeutic and soothing.

As a person who is, for the most part shy, unless she is around people she really knows, it has always been an important part of my life… the writing of poetry. I know that I have a hard time expressing how I feel, especially out loud and writing poetry has helped me break out of that shell. Writing is the best way to say what I need to say without feeling bad about it. In fact, it feels rewarding and freeing, especially if I am dealing with a bad situation or if I am otherwise weighted down. I write regardless if I am happy, sad, angry, mad, frustrated, etc. It is my way of coping with everything. I always try to carry around a notepad and pencil just in case if I get any inspiration. I even write notes on my iPhone.

In this world, you do not necessarily have to be a poet or a writer. As David Carradine says “If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.” In other words, we can all be writers and poets, but it matters more what you write and the content because it shows we have something to say or at least that is how I interpret that quote. People can disagree with me all they want to. I am leaving it open to interpretation.

To be a poet/writer you have to be open, especially to criticism, the ability to have guts and being vulnerable. That is what makes your writing better and more honest. I feel like honesty is the best policy. You choose what you get to write about. Natalie Goldberg says “Write about what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.” In conclusion, when you are writer and Natalie is saying this as well, you have to be fearless and be willing to anything/everything. So I strongly encourage all of my readers to write, draw or whatever it is that expresses who you are and what you have to say. I promise you that it will be worthwhile in the end. It gives you a chance to be yourself or you can be someone else like in theatre and acting. That is the reason why I like theatre as well. There are simply no rules and you can do it any way you want to. Here are two pieces just to show similarities and differences. Enjoy!!

Writing

I get so lost in the words that I write.

The rest of the world fades away as

The words spill out like ink on paper

And beautiful images begin forming.

I do not notice the daylight bleeding

Into the darkness. Everybody talks

Their solitude and this is mine.

The paper listens to me and my pen

Is waiting for my command.

Here, nobody tells me the rules

Or how to write or what to write.

I listen to what my head and my

Heart tell me. Every story comes

To life and it captivates me.

 

Spilled Words

Words spilling out on a blank piece

Of canvas and images tumbling

Out. The doubt will stop and cease

 

Just for a moment. Thoughts stumbling

And lagging behind are catching up to

Me. Things that were once crumbling

 

To the floor like ash are rising up to you,

The one who never truly understands

Unless you know me. My long-lasting blue

 

Sky is different than yours. The strands

Running through my fingertips would never

Make sense to you. Hang onto my hands

 

So you know what I feel, but forever

Feels like a long time ago. Catch onto my

Every word. It will take however

 

Long it needs to for you to get why I cry

And the reasons why I write. Everything

I create are my friends. They make me less shy.

Being Yourself

I know that it is a topic that I have talked about in so many of my blog posts, but it deserves its own category and it is something that I will always continue to talk about since it is something that is very important to me. That would be being yourself. We are born into this world and I have to admit that sometimes it takes some time to figure out who you are. It also takes some time to figure out what you want to do. I remember a while back ago, I am pretty sure it was about a year ago, I was talking to this person who I know who said to me “You’re you.” I sat there and thought about it… I did not truly understand what this person meant. So in fact I asked them pretty much what that means. This person said “You’re you, but your personality is so much more.” In other words, you have to be yourself and your own person. You cannot lose your personality and what makes you who you are, especially to please other people. In fact, you should not be around those people if they cannot appreciate who you really are.

I am digging back into Mandy Hale, one of my many heroes, who says “Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, magical person that you are.” What Mandy is saying is that we have to be ourselves and we have to let people see who we really are, even if we have imperfections we do want them to see. We all have quirks, imperfections and things that only make us unique. You cannot be anybody else because as Oscar Wilde says…”Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” Live in your own skin and your own body. I encourage all of my readers to be themselves. It is truly the only person we can be. Enjoy the following poem.

Be Yourself

Live in your own body and skin.
Nobody can live the life you can.
It is your blessing and your sin.

You are always better than
Those who pretend to be
Someone else. Always ban

Negative flow. Fit your key
Into you own lock and open
It wide. You are not me

Or he or she. You are not a token
In someone else’s pocket. You
Are not the words spoken

By someone else. Be true
To the person you become.
Be flawed. Be one of the rare few

Who will always come from
A deeply rooted place.
Be full with life, not just some.

Always fill in, color and trace
Your own lines. Remember
That you have your own face.

All Things Long Distance

When I first think of long distance, I think of something along the lines of a long distance phone call or a long distance relationship. However, after thinking about it for a while longer, it goes far beyond that because you can also have a long distance friendship or relationship with family members. I remember when I was in college (on the East Coast), I had that kind of relationship with my friends and family who were out here in California. Now I am dealing with the same kind of thing over here with my friends and people who are like family to me on the East Coast. Long distance is one of the most challenging and difficult things to deal with. You do not always get to see them as much as you used to (it even happens sometimes when friends and family are close by too).

Luckily, I have not been in a long distance relationship (even though I have been pretty close to having one a couple of times with my first boyfriend and a guy I was “dating”). Like I said before, anything long distance can be challenging and extremely difficult. It takes a lot of strength, courage and a lot of patience. It is not for everybody (I know that), but also you go through so many obstacles it may (or may not) be worth it in the end. I know that I would learn so much from having one of those kinds of relationships. Sometimes those kinds of relationships/friendships are better than the other ones (I am lucky enough to have those who are far away and also close by). You cannot help but miss them.

I searched high and low (because I just did not want to focus on just long distance relationships, as in romantic relationships) for a great quote. I think that I found a pretty good one. “You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That’s the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” I love that quote so much because wherever we go (whether it is across the United States or outside of this country) we always meet amazing people and they can sometimes become that person who means a lot to us. I am thinking of this long distance, especially with more of the holidays coming up (like Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, etc.) because those holidays are about being together and sharing many moments together. Sometimes it is hard to celebrate because family, friends and others are not right there besides you physically, but for the most part they are there with you mentally.

This serves as reminder to my readers and everybody else to cherish those moments with people who are right besides you because you will never find anybody as special as them. Furthermore, do not forget about those who may seem far away because you will (eventually) see them again. Do not forget to cherish those moments (whenever you see them) with those people as well. Nobody said long distance was going to be easy, but you just have to hang in there. I wish everybody happy holidays. May you have a Merry Christmas, a happy New Year (and whatever else it is that you all celebrate). And like I said before, not all things last forever. In this case, long distance does not always last forever. Enjoy this poem.

Long Distance

You are running through my mind,
But there is nothing I can do about
It with you so far away. I am blind
To what people say. It is like a drought,
Parched and dried up with little hope
Left for the rain. I want to shout

 

That life is not fair. This frayed rope
Is all that I have left to hang onto just
Barely. How am I supposed to cope?

How am I supposed to survive? We must
Fight for whatever is left, although I
Just want to give up. I put my full trust

Into you. I suppose that I could lie
And tell you that I do not want this
Anymore, but all we can do is still try.

We are supposed to be getting bliss
And happiness, but it is all on trial.
We are still in this endless abyss.

With all the distance and every mile
That is between us, there is audacity.
I may never want to live in denial

Ever again. This takes a lot of tenacity
And lots of hard work, but somewhere
Deep inside it takes us our full capacity.

Being Confident In Who You Are

Confidence, especially in who you are is a very and extremely important thing to have, especially as a woman in this society. People always tell us to be beautiful (because apparently that is how women are supposed to be), but being a woman is more than that. Confidence is being able to have full trust and belief (especially in oneself). We call that self-confidence and that is just as important. Lack of self-confidence is a whole another story. In other words, if you do not have self-confidence, that is no good. Being strong, confident, and working hard all go hand in hand.

Some people might say that having confidence can make you an ego maniac and arrogant (in fact, I think the word people might use in this instance is the b**** word). That is by the way not a nice word to use (at least in my books). In my mind there is nothing wrong with being overly confident (even in Demi’s song “Confident”, she asks “What’s wrong with being confident?) The answer to that question is absolutely nothing. I would rather be viewed as overly confident, rather than not having any confidence (trust me when I say that we can all work on our confidence). We should never have to worry if other people like us or not (it is not our responsibility to make them like us to begin with). This is the perfect moment to bring up a quote. “Confidence isn’t walking into a room with your nose in the air, and thinking you’re better than everyone else, it’s walking into a room and not having to compare yourself to anybody else to begin with.” I know that I have talked about never comparing yourself to other people and that is almost exactly what the right confidence does (which is not being better than anybody else).

That is why I have good role models who are confident like Beyoncé and Demi Lovato. They really do not care who likes them. I think it is because they have so much confidence in themselves that they really stop caring about others (and that does not make them selfish). They are strong, confident, independent and hard working women. In fact, besides Demi, Beyoncé has written some pretty wonderful songs about that, including “Singe Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” I just recently got her “Lemonade” album (just a little while ago) and I absolutely love it. Sure, she put her marriage on blast, but she sings a lot about what it is like to being a strong, independent, and confident woman (especially as an African American woman). I like her songs such as “Freedom” (with Kendrick Lamar) and “Formation,” but one of my favorite is “Six Inch” (which has inspired this poem that I have included down below in this post). In this song (if you really listen to the lyrics) she talks about working hard for the money. One of my lines in this song is “Six inch heels, she walked in the club like nobody’s business/
Goddamn, she murdered everybody and I was her witness.”

I decided to channel my inner Beyoncé and wrote this poem because Beyoncé is so inspirational. It helped to channel my inner persona (almost like a diva or an ego kind of in a sense). When I posted this piece as a member of Deep Underground Poetry (a writing community), a person who commented on it brought up a quote (a good one that is now one of my favorites) by Anaïs Nin. She says “The first time he looked at her he felt: everything will burn.” So I hope that my readers (and everybody else) will channel their inner Beyoncé (or whoever they look up to) and having tons of self-confidence.

Working Hard

She can set everything on fire,
But she would never stop and take
Notice. She only feels her own desire

For success. She wants to make
Every man feel weak and powerless.
She is never the one who will fake

Her own confidence. She is the mess
And chaos. She is also the calm
And will never be the one to confess

Her sins to the greedy. Her palm
Faces up not to surrender, but to
Help those who need it. She is a bomb

In the making, never taking shit from you
Because she is built from the ground
Up. Do not run to her when you screw

And mess it all up because she is bound
To not care about your pathetic excuses.
She is death, quiet without making a sound.

She never apologizes for her bruises
Or ugly scars. You should be the one who
Is running scared. She chooses

To see her life from the top window and view
Without being selfish. She works hard for
The money. She sees past everything that blew

Up. She has made the choice to restore
Her own happiness, trust and faith.
I caution you to think extremely hard before

She comes to destroy you like a wraith.
She does not float in the light like a halo,
But she also refuses to forever bathe

In the darkness like a lost child with yellow
Hair like the sunlight. Watch out for the
Lava that is coming out of her like a volcano.

Having a Kind Heart/Showing Kindness

I get it, we all have days where ugliness/meanness rears its head and sometimes we are just mean to other people. I think in today’s world there a far fewer days where we are kind towards each other. Ellen DeGeneres always says (at the end of her show) to be kind to one another. Why do we have to be kind towards one another? Honestly, a lot of the time it is easier to be kind to another. In fact, it should be one of the simplest things in this big world. Think about it…What feels and looks better, being kind towards someone else or saying something unkind. Besides, it does not feel good and takes up a lot of negative energy. Yeah, I know that some people do not deserve kindness, (in fact there could be a lot of people out there in the world like that) but they might just be having a terrible day or need someone to say something nice or for someone to smile at them.

Whenever we have our bad days sometimes we take it out on other people and I know that is not right, but sometimes that is the only way we know how to deal/cope with it. Try doing or saying at least one kind/nice thing day each day. I know it may seem challenging/daunting, but at least give it a try. I challenge each and every one of my readers plus everybody else out there to be much nicer. We all deserve kindness, regardless if we think we deserve it or not.

If you are naturally a kind person, do not let anybody else take that away from you. I naturally smile (it is a habit, maybe because I do it a lot, sometimes that helps me cope with something terrible) and people always wonder why I do. I do not know, but I should not let that be taken away from me. I always try to be nice to other people (partially because my parents raised me that way), but because it is who I am. Kindness goes hand in hand with being compassionate. It seems like such a strong word and it is. This world needs way more compassion too. So I encourage everybody to show compassion and kindness. We all need more of it.

I will finish this post by including a quote right here (there is also a poem to follow this quote) all about compassion and why we need it. There are so many good quotes about this topic, but this is by far one of the best ones I have found. This quote is said by L.R. Knost. He says the following “It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.” We have to show kindness, not only for ourselves but for every kid because we need to be really good role models. And like I have said before, here is my poem about showing some kindness.

Show Kindness

This big world is far too cruel for

Mean words and unkind actions. Keep

Your heart open to kindness before

 

You become too hard. Let is all seep

Into your bones to smile and laugh

When we all have bad days. A deep

 

Connection is craved. Avoid the half

Truths and pretend smiles. Be real.

Be honest. Keep a faded old photograph

 

In your pocket. Never let anyone steal

Your happiness and faith. Do not let

The rest of the world tell you what to feel.

 

Even the small things you worry and fret

About are out of your control. Never wait

For things, both big and small that have

 

Yet to happen. Never let fear, obstacles or hate

Get in your way. You are meant to be wild,

Silly, crazy, goofy and without the weight

 

On your shoulders. Never be tame or mild.

Be reckless, be bold and be brave. Keep

Them wondering why you always smiled.

Hard Times and Struggling

There are many moments (in our life) where we struggle and have difficult times. Some last a short while, but others last a whole lot longer. I found this amazing quote that I believe sums it all up. “Embrace the struggle and let it make you stronger. It won’t last forever” (said by Tony Gaskins). In other words, do not let your struggles or hard times keep you from breaking down and being weak. Every struggle and hardship is supposed to make you stronger/unbreakable. There is this saying that says that you have to go through the bad times before you can get to the good times. That is just how life works. You may try to blame other people or things that just go wrong, but you have to remember that you are the one who are going through these hard times and nobody else.

I get that life is not always fair, but that is just how life goes. We all have our ups and downs (sometimes a lot more downs), but we cannot allow them to dictate our life. I am in my 20s and still struggling, but at least I am trying to rebuild my life. In fact, I have been trying to rebuild my life since I finished college a few years ago. The good thing about rebuilding your life is that you get to decide who you want to be and what you want to do with your life. I was explaining this to a friend of mine (about rebuilding my life) and she put it in a great way (that I have never really though about before). She said “Everybody goes through those phoenix stages, burning up and starting over again.” I feel like that is a great metaphor, not only for my life, but for those around me because we all go through those stages in life. To quote the ever wonder Maya (again) from one her most famous pieces “Still I Rise,” she says “But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”

Regardless whatever hardship or obstacle or whatever storm comes your way, I promise you that you will eventually get through it. So this piece goes to all my readers who are having hard times and who are struggling (in whatever capacity). May you as Maya and I say…”Still I Rise.” May we all be phoenixes and continue to get through our hardships and times of struggle by rebuilding our lives (sometimes from the ground up). We will eventually find ourselves.

Like a Phoenix

Always keep walking on with your head

Held high up like a queen on her mission.

Even if you are going through bad times

 

Remember that life is like an audition.

It is all trial and error in life. Although

You want to mope, show your ambition

 

And do not let anyone dull your glow.

We are all phoenixes rising up from

The ashes. We all continue and plough

 

On through uncertainty. Stand firm

Through all the fire, rain and every storm.

I know you are stronger than every crumb

 

And rock below your feet. You will transform

Into something magnificent and wonderful, my

Dear. I can promise you that. Do not be lukewarm.

 

When the dusty ashes will be settled and be dry,

Then you will be beginning to rebuild your life

From the ground up. You are meant to soar and fly.

Being Thankful and Grateful

It is hard to believe that November is coming to an end (pretty soon I might add) and it is that time of year when we start to think about all the things we are grateful/thankful for (mostly because of Thanksgiving). Thanksgiving dates back a long time ago in our history when the Pilgrims came over on the Mayflower, but I do not know the exact history. When I look up the definition of Thanksgiving in the dictionary, it defines Thanksgiving as “the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God” (dictionary.com). I personally do not think of Thanksgiving as a religious holiday (as someone who comes from a non-practicing and non-religious family although I am Catholic/Jewish). I just think of it as another holiday to celebrate with loved ones with lots of food and laughter.

Being thankful and grateful should never have to be religious (and it should not be forced upon anybody as such).  Even though I think about all the things I am thankful for (and trust me, I have a lot of things I should be thankful/grateful for), I also think about those who may not be as lucky (like those who are living on the streets or those who are alone without family and friends). The other part of Thanksgiving is the giving part. You can never do wrong by giving (and I know that is something I can work on it). As much as we want to complain/argue about the things we do not have, we should not have to focus on those things. It is all a part of being thankful/grateful for the things we already have. There is this quote I found (in the spirit of Thanksgiving that is coming up this week). “Give thanks with a grateful heart” (Thessalonians 5:6).

So I hope that all my readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving (no matter where you are or who you celebrate it with). I just want to take this moment to thank all of the people who have continuously supported me and for all the things I am lucky to have (like endless love from my family and friends), a roof over my head, laugher, clothing, and food to eat. I hope that everybody realizes that there is always something (no matter how big or small it might be) to be thankful/grateful for. Demi is the one who says that (although the quote is really said by Oprah Winfrey) “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” And in this poem I echo a key part from Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman.” P.S. I just want to give a special shout out to K (wherever this person is) because although we have had our ups and downs I am still truly grateful/thankful for having you in my life.  

A Taste of Freedom and Thankfulness

A phenomenal woman, words
Echoed by my hero, Maya Angelou.
Fly home free like the birds.

You are every color, shade and hue
Of the rainbow. Never let the rest
Of the world keep you sad and blue.

Be continuously thankful and blessed
For everything you could ever possess.
Love, family and friends. Drive out west

Where you can taste freedom and say yes.
See every sunset and count all of the stars.
Remember every soft touch and caress.

Live life and sit on the handlebars
Instead of sitting in the passenger seat.
Nobody would be pointing at your scars

From every scrape and bruise. Defeat
All the haters and all of the doubt.
Never let anybody or anything mistreat

You or your trust. You should shout
It out from the rooftops because that is
Who you are and what you are all about.

Election Aftermath

Election night was absolutely crazy (Trump won). I will put it out there that I was not happy about the results (my family and I are Hillary Clinton supporters). Most of all I am concerned (not only for myself because I am a woman) for people of all different races, sexual orientation, and disabilities. Trump is one of those people who creates hatred and a sense of “white power.” His running mate (Mike Pence is no better). People can disagree with me all they want around this (and I do not want to get into any political arguments).

I am also concerned for the next generation (for those boys and girls) who watch what was on TV (around the election coverage and debates) and see that someone (especially a woman) could not become the first (female) President of the United States. Electing this man as our president sends the wrong message to our children. They would think it is okay to say cruel remarks towards women. They would think it is okay to mock people with disabilities. They think it would be okay to call Mexicans “rapists” and “criminals.” They would think it is okay to ban Muslims from entering this country and getting rid of illegal immigrants.

He wants to make this country “great” again, but he and his supporters (and those who elected him) are making everybody afraid (especially those who fit in one of those categories I was just talking about). I wish that I could give Trump the benefit of the doubt, but I cannot. I do hope that we can all rally (continuing these peaceful protests) and just hope (for the sake of our children) that we can do something for this country (in a productive way), especially if you are feeling hopeless after this election cycle.

I want to give hope to everybody and please do not ever get discouraged. And if you ever continue to see or feel hatred I found a quote for you. “When you see hatred, ignorance, and racism, stare it in the face. It probably won’t have the courage to look back.” As Hillary said in her concession speech, “I have, as Tim [Kaine] said, spent my entire adult life fighting for what I believe in. I’ve had successes and I’ve had setbacks, sometimes really painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers. You will have successes and setbacks, too. This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It is, it is worth it.” I hope that people realize that (at least some of us) are still with her (no matter what). So let us keep fighting, hoping, and getting us back on our feet. That is all we can do at this point because it is not only about us, but it is also about the next generation as well. Cheers and remember that although we want to mope (trust me, it could happen) do not stay in that state forever. Good days are ahead of us (also said by Hillary).

Only Love and Hope

There is no room for hatred in

This world. Do not dislike me

Or anybody else because we all

Have different skin colors. I may

Not pray to the same God as you.

I may not face or know the same

Hardships as other people. Many

Generations have come to this

Country for a new beginnings

And change. Now we have to say

Some of it is not possible. We have

To show and tell our children that

It is possible, but how can we do

That if a woman cannot become

President of the United States?

So much for freedom. We live

On and continue to fight.

Saying Sorry

I could not wait for another full week before posting this one because it is something that has been weighing heavily on my mind these days. It is taking a lot of pride and courage to say what I am about to say… I have to be brutally honest and this is something I am working on a lot these days. I am talking about this issue because it just came up with a friend and someone else that I know (I am not naming any names for their protection, but I hope that they are reading this). Everybody who really knows me know and understand that I am a nice person (or at least I try to be). I am also one of those people who do not get mad or angry all that much (well I do sometimes, but I keep it in).

One thing I have been working on is apologizing when I get angry and take it out on someone when we both know they did not deserve it. Like I said before, this just recently happened with one of my good friends. I do not want to make any excuses, but sometimes things build up and you lash out on people. On the flip side, people have to tell me (especially right away) if I make them angry, upset or sad because I cannot always read people and it would be better if they tell me about it rather than telling other people or just straight up not telling me (even if I get defensive which does happen). I know other people feel this way too and we can all work on it, I promise.

I know that I feel appreciative when people apologize and say sorry to me because it shows me they care enough so I know other people would appreciate the same when I do the same. I just want everybody to realize that yes, there are times when you need to apologize for some mistake that you made (even if you do not know what exactly you did or even if it is a small mistake), but do not feel like you need to apologize when you are being yourself. There is a big difference between the two. There is this quote I found to sum it all up perfectly. “You will always be too much of something for some people: too big, too loud, too soft, too emotional, too edgy. If you round out your edges, you will lose your edge. Apologize for unintentionally hurting someone…profusely. But do not apologize for being who you are.”

So I urge my readers to apologize for something that they did, no matter how big or small. Sometimes you did not mean to do it intentionally. It happens to all of us, even to the really good people. Forget about your pride and ego because it is not always about you, it is about the other person and making sure they know how much you care. If you or they do not care, then why does it matter? Some relationships and friendships (especially with loved ones) are far more important than others. People need to realize that more. Here is a poem, written as an apology for everybody (including those who I have unintentionally hurt). Nobody is ever weak (especially in these particular moments). Just know that it is never okay to intentionally hurt someone (no matter if they deserve it or not).

Being Sorry

Wounded ego and pride.

Forget about my feelings

And be able to put them aside.

 

I am the one who is healing

Someone else rather

Than just myself. Revealing

 

Myself is hard. I want to gather

You up close to my heart so you

Hear sincerity. You are my brother

 

And my blood sister too

So I feel sorry. Anger is no

Excuse for bidding you adieu

 

For good. I hope I do not blow

This opportunity with you because

You have always meant so

 

Much to me, no matter is every vase

Has shattered into thousands of small

Pieces. I do not want to cause

 

You any more pain. For all

Of the things I have said and

Done I apologize for hitting the wall.