jerrystaudenraus

[jerrystaudenraus]

Ordinary Inspirations

There is an infinite number of topics to write about. A little turn of the head, either to the left or to the right, will guarantee a new set of inspiration. Love, joy, peace, heartaches, loss, friendship, memories—everything can inspire someone to write. We take photographs and videos of big, important moments and celebrate or cherish them as long as we could. But I find seemingly ordinary moments more inspiring to write about, more fitting to immortalized through poems. These are the moments that we wish we can go back and capture in a photo or a video. These are the moments that we wish we can rewind over and over again, moments we wish we can relive whenever we want to. For instance, how many of us have captured the first time we meet someone truly important in our lives, like a spouse or a future best friend or a would-be mentor or just about anybody that will later mean anything to us in the future? Rarely are their snaps of such moments, and these are some of the moments you wish you’d remember the rest of your life. Parents are especially taunted by hundreds of unexpected moments of joy. These are the moments when a little one would blurt out something or do something that truly makes the heart of a parent smile. What parent does not wish for such moments to be immortalized? Finally, there are those moments that just touch the soul. Sometimes, looking out at a snow-covered yard, you recall a time spent with someone in the past and you ache to relive that moment. Sometimes you touch someone’s hand or look into someone’s eyes and know these are moments you will remember for as long as you live. Sometimes you kiss someone’s lips and know you will forever be haunted by that kiss. Sometimes you whisper goodbye to someone and know, from that moment onward, life will never be the same again. Don’t we all have moments we wish we can replay forever? Don’t we wish we can capture everything—every smile, every laughter, every tear, every memory—in a photo? Only poems and songs can capture moments long after they are gone. Sometimes words even fail us, but words truly linger long after the moments are over. Read the full article

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Passion

The slightest touch of passion can ignite a fire in a blink of the eye. The dictionaries say“passion” is a strong emotion beyond control, but anybody who has felt passion for someone or something knows there is so much more that dictionaries cannot put into words. What is it about passion that the world cannot control it? What is it about passion that sometimes drives otherwise-rational people into self-destruction? What is it about passion that makes us crave for more? Anybody can be passionate about something or someone. Whether it is a project, a goal, a dream, craft, a business—passion usually takes effort to the next level and make the impossible possible. People who are passionate about what they do are people who are inspired to reach the goals they set for themselves. These are people who see far beyond the trials and the challenges in front of them and envision nothing but the fulfillment of their goal or dream. Sometimes passion drives people crazy over someone. Passion does not discriminate or choose time and place when it strikes, but whoever becomes its prey can become stuck for some time or for good. We’ve all heard stories of passion gone wrong, especially when right from the get-go it is wrong. For instance, two people who feel passion for each other can expect misery and confusion if they are married to other people—meaning, the passion is wrong. But can something that feels so good and so strong be wrong? Yes, passion is sometimes misplaced and is sometimes wrong. When people are hurt in the process, then it is wrong. Nothing right can come from something wrong, no matter how right it feels. Considering our passions, we should think about everyone involve. Will our advocacy or goal or dream hurt someone in the process? Is hurting them to be expected? Will loving someone mean hurting another person? Will a few moments of flaming passion destroy someone? If the answer is yes, then that passion is worth thinking over and over again. Read the full article

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Questions

The world is an amazing place full of things to wonder about. What do you do with all the questions that are guaranteed to greet each and every day of your life? The moment you wake up, you start wondering how the day will turn out: what’s the weather like, what should you expect, where will you go to recharge yourself, what will you do to while away the time you have alone? These are the easy-enough questions that lead to even more questions. That’s simply how life is—a series of question and answer. However, no matter how many questions there are, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you get to ask the question you want to have answered. When a kid asks his mom about one thing, the mom knows he won’t stop with just one question. There will be follow-ups and rebuttals. But the important thing here is that the kid manages to ask his/her mom the question. The answer is not as important as the achievement of asking the question. A kid should not be discouraged to ask questions or to express himself. Instead, he should be encouraged to talk about himself and his immediate surroundings. He should be encouraged to express himself as freely as possible. When the kid grows some and becomes a teenager, the questions will turn inward. There will be no “Mommy! Mommy, why are …?” Instead, he or she will ask, “What is happening to me and to my body?” “Can I tell them about what happened to me?” “Does the world understand what I am going through?” “Why am I so angry?” And on and on it goes, until one day, he or she will ask, “What do you do?” “How can you multitask like that?” Finally, he or she will ask about God, his blessings, and his mysterious ways: “Why is the world not fair?” “Why me?” “What is the purpose of life?” “Does God truly exists?” These and more are the questions we try to answer in our lives. Their answers depend on a composite of many other factors. How about you, what are the questions that haunt and plague you? Read the full article

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Invisible

There are 7.7 billion people in the world, but sometimes you feel invisible? How could that be possible? Every one of us craves some level of attention, appreciation, and love. That’s how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs came to be formed. That’s why there is the cliché that says no man is an island. And it is true no matter how stubborn you deny that you need others—it is true. Even God, in the story of creation, acknowledged that Adam needed someone to keep him company, thus Eve. If you are invisible and people, especially those you care about, do not notice you or what you do, isn’t it time to have a conversation with yourself and try to analyze what is wrong in your situation? Over 7 billion people in the world and no one notices you at all? You might be waiting for a miracle if that is the case, unless you take charge of your situation and move on. Imagine the girl waiting for the boy of her dreams to notice her. If she fails to factor in the fact that he is happy in his relationship, then nothing will happen to her. The same is true for a woman waiting for her boss to fall for her like she had for him. If she forgets that he is a happily married man, then he is wasting her time for nothing. Those are not the type of miracles you pray for. Instead, ask for courage and strength of heart to move on and find your place under the sun, where you don’t have to be invisible, where you will be appreciated, and where you will have a chance at happiness. If you are invisible now, if you’re still waiting for someone to chat you up or ask you out on a Friday night, if you are still waiting for that long-overdue promotion, if you feel used, don’t blame the world. The world is a beautiful place that has amazing things to offer. But you must go after those amazing things. If nothing happened in a year or three, please don’t wait anymore and move on. Look for other dreams, other aspirations and meet new people and opportunities to surround yourself with. That is your responsibility. If you don’t like how invisible you’ve become, you don’t have to be. Decide and look for your place under the sun. Read the full article

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What Stars Tell Us

Stars have long served as guide to men. In ancient times, three wise kings followed a star that led them to a manger where the Messiah was born. Astrologers look up at the stars to try and figure out what the future holds. Many wait to wish upon a falling star. What do stars tell us? Do they know the secrets of the future? Whatever you believe about stars is all up to you, but one thing is for certain, stars have stories of their own. These are stories that take eons of years to mold. Theirs are stories about a universe so vast that even stars that are humongous take up little in the vastness of the universe. Theirs are stories about their own hot surfaces and the cold universe around them. Theirs are stories abour collisions and death—the death of their own power. Finally, theirs are stories about witnessing billions of human lives below. Stars have witnessed the universe change since time immemorial. Stars have seen Earth change its face thousands of times. And most importantly, stars have seen men and women live their lives under the canopy of the sky. Perhaps from witnessing these lives, stars can put two and two together and tell what is in store in the future. When two people meet and form a relationship, can stars tell if the relationship is doomed right from the start? History repeats itself, and stars have witnessed everything in history. From up their positions in the sky, perhaps that’s what makes it easy to predict what is yet to come. Perhaps there’s no way to tell what is in the future. Perhaps stars are simply rocks formed by billions of changes in the infinite universe. Perhaps we romanticize the stories about stars for our own benefit. We need to believe in something greater than our feelings and bigger than our love and our aches. We need to know our stories make sense, and sometime, somewhere, all the stars will align for our wishes. What do stars tell you? Read the full article

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Seasons Change

The changing seasons bring us many things we oftentimes do not pause to consider anymore. There’s the seasonal colds that a change in temperature can cause, especially in those who have weak immunities. There’s the slight rush or slight pull-back, depending on which season is coming. But always there’s the beauty of world and life around us. Because life is a constant change one after the other, why not brace ourselves for the changes we can anticipate? Why not strengthen our immunities—body, heart, and mind—so the seasonal colds don’t hit us like a freight train? Why allow ourselves to suffer something we can skip? A horrible relationship is similar to seasonal colds in many aspects. It cannot be helped but you can skip the drama and the hurt and move on with dignity intact. There’s no need to wait it out, expecting a miracle from outside forces, because really you are the miracle that stops or end what is happening or what will happen to you. Out of sync, out of balance, or simply out of time, how we rush through our days, unable to savor the warmth of the sun—if there is any left—the warmth of our activities, or the warmth of the body next to us. One day we must all go and turn irrevocably cold. Why hurry and not enjoy what warmth there is for the meantime? The world is a beauty that is constantly changing in colors, smells, and feel. Every change is a chance to reinvent ourselves and become the real beauties we really are underneath the layers upon layers of selves we’ve piled up over the years. Why not shed off our inhibitions, our fears, our regrets and just be in the moment? The changing seasons are not mere add-ons in our lives. They serve a purpose, oftentimes to renew our minds and our hearts and lead us closer to who we ought to be. Why fight for something we can’t control? Why not prepare as much as we can and then let go and let be? Read the full article

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Every day Is Valentine’s Day

Surely, everyone who loves and is loved in return knows about Valentine’s Day—the special day in February when many of us chooses to wear our hearts on our sleeves. While we all celebrate or remember it in many different ways, without a doubt, St. Valentine’s Day is an important day all around the world. However, if it is so important and if it brings us so much joy, why can’t we celebrate it every day? Supposedly, it is a day given to celebrate and honor the love inspired by St. Valentine, just like we set a day to celebrate and honor St. Patrick. But celebrating and honoring love and those people we love should be a daily event, not an annual thing.  Genuine love is not all about flowers, chocolates, pricey dinners, or other costly, over-the-top gestures. How about cooking a simple meal at home to surprise one’s spouse or calling in the middle of the day to check on him or her? How about getting someone special the book he or she wants or fixing broken things at home without being asked? How about writing a short thank-you note? How about calling one’s mom or dad to listen about their day? How about taking the time off a busy week to play at the park with your kids? There are many ways to say you appreciate someone. There are many ways to express love. It doesn’t have to be on Valentine’s Day. Every day is a chance to tell loved ones just how much they mean. Every day is a chance to give love. At the end of the day, love equates to time, attention, care, respect. How difficult is that? A gift may set you back some bucks, but a hug won’t. A fancy dinner is nice, but spending time with a loved one is more important. Make every day a Valentine’s Day. Read the full article

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Silver Linings

Because there is no such thing as a perfect life, everyone needs to be reminded that there is hope for sunshine and even rainbows after the rain. Every one of us needs to be reminded that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that silver linings are not mere metaphors—they are real.  Sometimes, the demands and stresses of everyday living are enough to bring a person down. Sometimes one feels so beaten that there could be no possible way to bounce back. Sometimes challenges are just too huge for one to cope up. Sometimes there is no sense why horrible things happen. The good news, however, is the ray of light at the end of the tunnel—the metaphorical silver lining. There is always something to be learned and to be gained from every experience—no exceptions whatsoever. Understandably, when one suffers from the injustices of the world, when Murphy’s law just happens at the most inopportune time, or when the world is too much to bear, one asks the why’s and how’s: Why is this happening to me? How is this possible? Why is this happening now? Are those the right questions? No, they are not. Obviously, nobody can take anybody’s right to feel bad about the bad things in life, but truth be told, focusing on those things will not make them right. No amount of allowing in pain or stress will make things right. One has to experience those, let go, and let be. The right questions are just as simple to ask: How can I make things better? What can I do differently? What is the lesson here? Where is the silver lining? Those are not just simple questions, but more than anything else, those are the questions that will help anyone bounce back on his or her feet. Perhaps it won’t be easy. After all, instant things are usually perishable while things that are truly worthwhile are always worth the wait or the struggle.  SO where is the silver lining you are looking for? Read the full article

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Expectations

Some of the most haunting poems are based on unmet and crashed expectations. It’s always too easy to expect. The heart easily falls for the trap set by expectations. Even if the mind raises protest against the heart’s expectations, how many listen and heed the mind? Part of being human is to expect and to hope. Are the two—hope and expectation—the same? When one hopes, one actually wishes and desires for something, but when one expects, one assumes that something will happen. Some people hope to find their true love; others expect second dates that will not happen. Others hope to catch the fancy of someone special; some expect for a call that will never come.  It is not only in matters of the heart where there are often unmet expectations. Life is actually full of expectations. Some of them are reasonable; others are doomed to fail from the start. The more one expects, the harder it is to recover should the expectation stay unmet. Why look for such heartaches? Is it possible to go through life without expectations? To meet someone and see where it goes without expecting a promise, a commitment, a ring in the end? To start something without undue expectations? To go somewhere and enjoy the moments that matter without having to check listed expectations? Is it possible to be in a moment and just be without expecting it to last any longer than it should? It is possible. Life is simpler, better without undue expectations. Love is sweeter without all the uncalled-for pressure. Let us learn to just be. Here. Now. Read the full article

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Dance: Poetry in Motion

These days, dancing is such an underrated concept, except in circumstances where it may lead to meeting someone or spending the night with someone or in stages all across the world where dance is respected and celebrated. Other than that, we have mostly lost all sense of what a dance is. Dancing is a form of poetry in motion. It is an art. It has a story to tell. When one pays attention to the movements of the body, one is actually watching a story unfold oftentimes silently. Think of the natives of Hawaii and their traditional hula dance. In ancient times, the hula was a revered religious tradition in the Pacific islands, but overtime, it has evolved to reflect colonialism and the natives’ determination to preserve their identity culturally and religiously. The tango, on the other hand, originated from Buenos Aires. It is a popular partner dance done in fast-paced music. It is a controversial dance, as it involves expressive, passionate music and body movements with sexual undertones. However, tango remains as one of the favorites around the world. According to online research, “the paso doble is a dramatic interpretation in dance of the matador facing a bull in the traditional bull ring and originated in southern Spain. “The paso doble is just another form of poetry and art expressed through dance movements. All around the world, there are people who are highly aware of how important dancing is. There are those who consider dancing an extension of who they are and as self-expression. There are those who dedicate their lives to producing awe-inspiring dance moves. There are those who make a living from dancing. There are those who consider dancing an all-around exercise. However, majority of us do not see dancing as an art. Often, it is abused as a form of escape by young boys and girls. Some exploit themselves by dancing and engaging in the world’s oldest profession. Some are too afraid to express themselves through dancing. Perhaps dancing will receive the appreciation it deserves. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. Read the full article

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Needs and the Poetry They Spark

People can be so predictable. Our hierarchy of needs make it so. Aside from the fundamental needs of man, the need to belong and to be loved will always be there—a need that precedes all introductions, all getting-to-know stages. In a crowded bar alone, everyone is not only looking to have a cold one or a good time. Everyone wants to belong to the crowd or get lost in one or to spark the interest of someone and perhaps end up in love or lust. Everyone interacts with people because there are needs that must be met, if not exceeded. Oftentimes, these needs wring the most beautiful poetry out of us. Think of the man or woman who needs love and comfort. He or she sits in a corner alone or with friends, but his or her eyes are always scanning the crowded room, searching for someone to step into his or her view and perhaps be the one to fulfill his or her needs. Think about the woman who sends thoughts of love and longing to a spouse or a special friend from a long distance. All those thoughts are forms of fleeting poetry. Think about the man about to undress and make love to a woman. Every step, every motion, every eye contact, every whisper is unwritten poetry spoken in volume by the body. The world is full of poetry that do not make it on paper. Not all of us have the luxury of time or talent to put down on paper all the wonderful fleeting moments we experience. Some of us are too caught up in the moment. Some of us do not know that we are living poetry ourselves.  Still needs, whether they are met or not, make wonderful poetry. Read the full article

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Why Memories Linger for Too Long

There are many people who suffer because they can’t—or won’t—¬let go of their past. They suffer in different ways, and we call these suffering many different names¬—depression, PTSD, trauma, heartaches, regrets, failures. Why do we allow ourselves to suffer? Needless to say, mental disorders, like depression and anxiety, are beyond our control. The mind, after all, is a tricky mechanism. But if we are hounded by a painful past, which triggers our depression and anxiety, there are things we can do to recover from such a past. That is, if we want to recover. It may be surprising to some, but there are those who wallow in their hurt. There are those who are not willing to let go. Perhaps because we love and care too much or because we invested too much of ourselves that we find it difficult to let the past stay in the past. Perhaps it is because we let what once was define who we are. We let memories linger and gnaw at us. A failed relationship, for example, is oftentimes a source of depression. When you love so deeply, it takes time to heal from the pain, but once you make the conscious decision to move on and put in mindful actions to bounce back, healing will be faster and will be more complete. Of course, there is no complete healing if, every now and then, you revisit the past, perhaps by putting blame or by entertaining what-ifs. No, that is not the way to heal. Neither is denial nor anger. What healing requires is honesty and humility so that forgiveness is possible. There is beauty in letting go. It allows you to look back and appreciate the good memories and learn from the bad ones. It lets you appreciate how far you’ve come along and gives you the strength to face the future. There is no doctor who can completely heal you from the stings of the past. It is all up to you, your mind, and your heart. Read a poem and listen to good advice or write a poem and empty out yourself so tomorrow you start anew. Read the full article

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Enlightenment

The dictionaries define enlightenment as “the act or means of being free from ignorance and misinformation.” What the dictionaries fail to mention is the often-challenging road to enlightenment. Often, enlightenment does not happen in one setting, like in a class. Enlightenment is a deeper, more complex process that takes more time and more effort. It takes more investment on our part to reach an enlightened level. We’ve all had aha moments, those moments when an imaginary light bulb lights up and things suddenly make sense in the world. Those aha moments do not happen just because. More often than not, they happen once we’ve been tried and tested by circumstances. However, there is a huge advantage to the modern times we know today. There are now many resources that can help a person on his or her way to enlightenment. There are books, there are podcasts, there are online courses, and there are lots of opportunities for development. For example, in any given city, it is almost always guaranteed that there are short courses for meditation to try out. Short, face-to-face courses allow us to meet new people, develop our interpersonal skills, and learn new things from others. There are also hundreds of life and work coaches who are there to help. These are people who are experts in their fields, and for a fee, they are available to help those who are in need. In short, we have access to more sources of information for our enlightenment. There are many ways to work toward one’s enlightenment. The universe will always provide for ways to help, but there’s a catch: enlightenment, in whatever aspect—love, personal development, finances—is personal. It has to happen to you so that it will affect your life and your way of living. Many enlightened people write about their journey, but reading them does not mean anything if it will not affect us personally, move us, or connect the dots so we too become enlightened. There has to be that aha moment so that the “truth” or the “enlightened piece of information” from others will help in our own enlightenment. Otherwise, it is useless to us, until that moment when everything we learned and experienced will make sense. Here’s hoping all our journeys make sense to us one way or another. Read the full article

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Silence

The noise we make every second of the day drowns out the silence that we need. Understandably, not every sound is noise. There are types of music, for example, that feed the imagination and bring real joy. These are the types that must be shared to multiply its effects. There are songs that bring back good memories, and some that inspire dreams or goals. There are some sounds that remind us of progress, and there are those that give us a sense of security. The sound of a factory machine, for example, means there are jobs for people. The sound of a siren means there are officers looking after peace and order in the community. The cry of a baby is just as lovely as the laughter of children. They both signify the blessings children bring to those around them. The chatter of family and of friends is an important ingredient to a happy life in and out the family circle. When any of these, however, is abused or used to the extreme, these sounds become noise. Too much pounding “music” hurts the ears just as much as it hurts our tranquility. When chatter becomes vicious and hurtful, perhaps as gossip, it may become a negative way of life. The important thing to remember is simple: too much of something is bad enough. Even something that starts as innocent can become a source of negativity. Once accustomed to the noise of the world, silence may be a difficult thing to recovery. The noise becomes our way of life. Poetry has the power to silence the mind and to calm the heart, because poetry is not meant for shouting and it is intended for the heart. It has the power to restore kind words and express real emotions. It is almost as therapeutic as prayer. In fact, it can be used as a prayer, a plea, or a promise. Silence allows the soul to absorb poetry and poetry that touches the soul results to genuine peace. Read the full article

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A Day in a Poet’s Life

A day in a poet’s life is never the same. A poet rises with the sun or perhaps when the sun is already high up the morning sky. It doesn’t matter really because what sets a poet’s day apart is not the hour it starts or ends but what happens in between. Some do the same tasks that they do every day of the week, but they're never is that routine feeling. No matter how mundane the tasks, there are always new insights and new feelings to be had. Sometimes brewing coffee or taking a shower or a bath can bring the most inspiring thoughts to propel a day. Sometimes meals with family can bring the most comfort, and stepping out of the house can give the best motivation. But slowing down is not a disadvantage too. Even listening to the pouring rain or sitting in a patio can give the soul the reprieve it needs. Mingling with other people brings more perspective and sharing to others gives the most joy. It doesn’t matter with whom the time is spent or what is shared. It’s always the meaning of gestures and encounters that count in the end. Most people rush through life without pause and hardly a second to catch a breath. A poet is different. There are more pauses and more reflections and time to put into writing all that transpires in a day. Only this way will a poet know what to write about; only this way will a poet receive the good grace to share about life through poetry. A day in a poet’s life is similar to everybody’s day. A poet goes through morning routines, work, and wind down in the evening. But between phases, a poet knows life is more than all those, more than the pressures and the requirements of the day, more than the grind that must be accomplished. Anybody can be a poet, because life, really, is poetry. But capturing life in paper and ink is not for those who can’t spare a moment to reflect and listen to the universe. Only poets know how to let daily events teach them about life. Nothing is a waste of time. Read the full article

[jerrystaudenraus]

A Day in a Poet’s Life

A day in a poet’s life is never the same. A poet rises with the sun or perhaps when the sun is already high up the morning sky. It doesn’t matter really because what sets a poet’s day apart is not the hour it starts or ends but what happens in between. Some do the same tasks that they do every day of the week, but they're never is that routine feeling. No matter how mundane the tasks, there are always new insights and new feelings to be had. Sometimes brewing coffee or taking a shower or a bath can bring the most inspiring thoughts to propel a day. Sometimes meals with family can bring the most comfort, and stepping out of the house can give the best motivation. But slowing down is not a disadvantage too. Even listening to the pouring rain or sitting in a patio can give the soul the reprieve it needs. Mingling with other people brings more perspective and sharing to others gives the most joy. It doesn’t matter with whom the time is spent or what is shared. It’s always the meaning of gestures and encounters that count in the end. Most people rush through life without pause and hardly a second to catch a breath. A poet is different. There are more pauses and more reflections and time to put into writing all that transpires in a day. Only this way will a poet know what to write about; only this way will a poet receive the good grace to share about life through poetry. A day in a poet’s life is similar to everybody’s day. A poet goes through morning routines, work, and wind down in the evening. But between phases, a poet knows life is more than all those, more than the pressures and the requirements of the day, more than the grind that must be accomplished. Anybody can be a poet, because life, really, is poetry. But capturing life in paper and ink is not for those who can’t spare a moment to reflect and listen to the universe. Only poets know how to let daily events teach them about life. Nothing is a waste of time. Read the full article

[jerrystaudenraus]

A Day in a Poet’s Life

A day in a poet’s life is never the same. A poet rises with the sun or perhaps when the sun is already high up the morning sky. It doesn’t matter really because what sets a poet’s day apart is not the hour it starts or ends but what happens in between. Some do the same tasks that they do every day of the week, but they're never is that routine feeling. No matter how mundane the tasks, there are always new insights and new feelings to be had. Sometimes brewing coffee or taking a shower or a bath can bring the most inspiring thoughts to propel a day. Sometimes meals with family can bring the most comfort, and stepping out of the house can give the best motivation. But slowing down is not a disadvantage too. Even listening to the pouring rain or sitting in a patio can give the soul the reprieve it needs. Mingling with other people brings more perspective and sharing to others gives the most joy. It doesn’t matter with whom the time is spent or what is shared. It’s always the meaning of gestures and encounters that count in the end. Most people rush through life without pause and hardly a second to catch a breath. A poet is different. There are more pauses and more reflections and time to put into writing all that transpires in a day. Only this way will a poet know what to write about; only this way will a poet receive the good grace to share about life through poetry. A day in a poet’s life is similar to everybody’s day. A poet goes through morning routines, work, and wind down in the evening. But between phases, a poet knows life is more than all those, more than the pressures and the requirements of the day, more than the grind that must be accomplished. Anybody can be a poet, because life, really, is poetry. But capturing life in paper and ink is not for those who can’t spare a moment to reflect and listen to the universe. Only poets know how to let daily events teach them about life. Nothing is a waste of time. Read the full article