self-help and personal development

A Poem to Ponder . For your reading pleasure. I have had this poem for years and read it often. I wanted to share.

The Nature of Risk

• By Patricia Soper (NOT me), a local poet in Patchogue, NY

What courage, each year, has the tree
to once again birth her leaves,
her pink cherry blossoms or delicate dogwood petals,
knowing in days, weeks or months,
they will wither and fall to the ground.
So, too, the crocus or tulip,
who struggles through the frozen ground,
regardless the chance of Spring snowfall.
Even if warmed, her flower’s glory will be
short-lived.
What freedom to show up, generously share,
sure of one’s value to Earth.
Oh, to be like that,
to bloom without fear,
not clinging to longevity,
nor demanding guarantee,
but offer our best without expectation.

The pressure to be thoughtful. It’s an interesting thing - this feeling that I need to post something thoughtful here. I’m feeling tension emerge in my abdomen. There’s a belief that there’s a right and a wrong way to engage in this community with no clarity on what is right or wrong. Noticing that and letting that be.