Mother said: “Look after your sister!”
What she meant was: Take these
burdens off my shoulders, I am
no longer able to cope.
Father said: “Do as I say, not as I do!”
What he meant was: I don’t have
the wherewithal to deal with my own
problems, so don’t bring me yours.
Sister said: “Be a good auntie!”
What she meant was: I am too
young to be a mother, and you are so
much more responsible, please take on
the consequences of my poor choices.
So I ran away to build my own life.
Met a man and married, bought a house,
had children and hopes and dreams
for a future that would erase the past.
Husband said: “If you really loved me
you’d try harder to lose weight, be less
effusive in public, control your temper,
and be more supportive of my choices.
What he meant was: I’m going to grind
you so far into the ground and then I’m
going to cheat and cheat and you’ll have
nothing left inside to do anything about it.
And without a word, I left, and
what I meant was: I am a real person
with needs and faults and limitations
and it’s about time I honour me.
To see the underlying meaning of statements is to grow in wisdom in this world. I just started fully honoring myself last year. Old ties kept me bound. Now I am free to be happy. Thank-you for triggering these thoughts that put past choices into perspective for 2019. Always good to reflect and let go. Hope this new year brings you many wonderful surprises. 🙂
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Thank you, Olga. Always appreciate your perspective.
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Powerful!
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Thanks Teresa. Happy New Year.
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Happy new year
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Great poem… Happy new yeae
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Thanks. Same to you.
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I love this VJ! So good! ❤
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Thanks. Happy New Year
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This is excellent V.J. — very powerful!
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Thanks, Terri. Happy New Year
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Happy New Year to you as well! Hope this coming year is your best yet!
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Excellent piece.
Good to realize this before it is a little too late.
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Yes! Thank you. Hope you had a good holiday
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It was good to be home and being able to take care of sick parent.
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Ah. That is what I am doing now. It is good.
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Great poem, so many “statements” I’ve heard all my life and you lay out those underlying meanings so well. But the last stanza holds all the power!
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I’m sure we’ve all experienced some form of this. Thanks
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You’re welcome
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Happy new year dear.<3
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