‘I think’
said the monkey mind
‘that I think too much’.
And she scampers off busily
up thought trees tangled
with stories.
Narratives twisting towards the light
thrusting up strange blooms,
every shade of the emotional rainbow.
Curious to know more,
the monkey scampers on.
Always restless,
the voice chattering away
in the jungle of my mind.
Does that monkey ever sleep?
Those small things that you deny yourself,
The movie, or book,
Night out with friends,
Or bunch of flowers
That you think you don’t deserve.
–
Leading on to more denial,
The kind words you would bestow on a stranger
But wouldn’t consider saying to yourself,
Preferring instead the harshness
Of an inner critic
–
The chances not taken
By the likes of you,
Missed opportunities,
Paths left unwalked,
A life half lived.
–
You can’t deny
You need to lighten up.
Be kind to yourself and
Open up
To the joy in this world.
Driving to work
Past fields and hedges and trees without leaves,
The distant fells of the Lake District,
A milky opalescent dawn sky,
And I feel so happy
And I think, if I could send a message
To my younger self
I would say
‘Relax
I know things don’t feel easy.
But it will all work out in the end.
Take it one step at a time, don’t worry so much.
Life still has its ups and downs,
But the view from here is worth it.’
Life in the Fresh Air 