“When we begin to build walls of prejudice, hatred, pride, and self-indulgence around ourselves, we are more surely imprisoned than any prisoner behind concrete walls and iron bars.” (Mother Angelica) on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking while being different, being me… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )
Journey of Self Discovery…

It is a Friday morning ,

with a world in turmoil but here on the path there is hope and a dream… some thoughts from last year….

The new year is rapidly approaching
As I contemplate the tomorrow,
Leaving some memories filled with happiness
A few memories filled with sorrow.

I peer out my window
At a winter world cold and bleak,
A world of conflict, anger and hate
Mortals are suffering as I speak.

But we have a dream
Martin Luther King and I,
That one day there will be peace
No more mortals will die.

And there will be hope
Of a world filled with love one day,
A wish that could come true
For hope is the last to die…they say.

Not a world of race, color or gender
Nor closed minded ridicule or prejudice…you see,
But a world that respects another’s dream
Of what or who they wish to be.

So I peer out the window
Not with sadness or fear,
But a heart filled with a dream
That everyone has a wonderful new year.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Hello Diary,

Haven’t been online much due to the daily storms, were out of power for a time yesterday, Thursday, but “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”.. 🙂 more fortunate than others though… taking a break in the activities to share some thoughts…

Another holiday on the horizon, a day of remembrance for the fallen.. here on the path it is a day to remember everyone, not just the fallen, but those who have also suffered and a day to fill with love and peace…

Maybe No More Children Will Die

I set here looking at the news
The powers wanted peace they say,
And while they spoke, bombs were dropped
20 children died that day!

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give PEACE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

Smiles on their faces, while shaking hands
Arms deals for defense would come into play,
A bomb went off in a crowded market
10 children died that day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give a world with LOVE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

A war to end all wars, they said
Yet to war they always return,
Death, destruction, suffering and pain
Won’t they every learn?

What’s wrong with this idea?
Let’s give LEARNING a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.

Anger versus anger, hate versus hate
Seeds sown by war at home and away,
Starvation , sickness, a mother in tears
More and more children die every day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give PEACE, LOVE and LEARNING a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.
( Larry “Dutch” Woller, 9-17-2008)

To pause for thought and remembrance, but not linger long for there is the living…

“I gave all those (all races, gender, beliefs, religion) from all countries that perished in the Towers a time of thought and remembrance… but now it is time to move on, not live in the shadows of 9/11….. I cannot change the past, but I can help determine the future… I cannot help the dead but I can help the living.. (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

And to remember those who are trying to follow their dreams while dealing with man’s inhumanity against man…

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom”. Isaac Asimov

Well, I had better close for now, have a lull in the storm as they say, so will get on with the next adventure, have plenty of rainbows to check out.. 🙂 but I shall return again one day, fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Have been there and done that (me sitting on the ground)..

Will take peace and love any day!.. 🙂

In Remembrance……

We were volunteers, one and all
So Noble.. Proud.. and Brave,
Did not know the reasons for war
Just a people from tyranny to save!

Glasses held high, we made an toast
Surely that Victory would rule the day!
While back at home, the voices of unrest
Not a kind word for us did they say.

Some could not vote, children were we
Some could not drink, but still our battle cry,
Even with all that we could not do
For us children, it was to do or die!

Vietnam was a hostile, violent land
The dangers, the horrors of war abound,
Whether the paddies of Vietnam or the fields of home,
Seemed for us, not a friend could be found.

But we proudly gave it our all
Faced our destiny, with a hint of fear of tomorrow
Some to return to a mother’s joy
Some to return to a mother’s sorrow.

So should you be looking on today
One more toast, hold your glasses high,
To PEACE, HOPE and LOVE, may they long endure
CHEERS, LADS AND LASSIES!!!.. And SEMPER FI

(penned on May 30, 2009 by; Sgt, Larry “Dutch” Woller
12th Marine Regiment
Vietnam, 1965–1966…)

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“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” ― (Maya Angelou) on the path least traveled….

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking while being different, being me… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )

It is a bit of a gloomy Saturday morning… sometimes everyone has a gloomy morning in their lives and nothing to do with the weather… a good time to have a friend perhaps..
“No matter the pain or suffering, it is always better if it’s a burden shared by two, instead of a weight carried by one alone”…

“Portrait of a Friend”

I can’t give solutions to all of life’s problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can’t change your past with all it’s heartache and pain,
nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can’t keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can’t prevent you from falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only think of you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can’t give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can’t keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can’t tell you who you are or who you will be
I can only love you and be your friend
(Adam Clarke)

Hello Diary,

Weekend is finally here after a busy week.. in the past have been watching the doves as they attempt to build a home while dealing with the weather… after numerous attempts with the trees, etc, they finally decided the perfect place for their home were on top of my storage cabinet on the deck under the roof… 🙂

One can see the head of the dove and part of the nest inside the pink circle… their love and determination (while working together) found a way and now they have their home.. “A home that is built with patience, understanding and love will withstand the strongest winds of difficulties and conflict , a home built with a closed mind, insincerity and haste will collapse in a mere breeze of discontent.” (Larry “Dutch” Woller )

The apple tree is in full bloom..

Fruit trees cycle every three years and perhaps this year will have some apples… 🙂 inspite of the weather, plants and creatures continue on with their lives while on the path to their destiny.. perhaps world’s society could take some lessons from nature… “I believe that destiny, on a daily basis, puts challenges before me to deal with…how I deal with those challenges will determine what I shall become..” (Larry “Dutch” Woller)..

The lilac bush is finally in full bloom also, much to the delight of the backyard insects..

The going theory is that it is the best time to hunt for wild mushrooms while the lilac bush is in bloom… I purchase my mushrooms at the store, so with the help of my friends

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… and be my friend” ― (Albert Camus )

I use my time outdoors following my dreams, living and learning about life and the universe… and speaking about learning “ I am currently attending the School of Life, learning more about the universe and me and Graduation Day will be the day of my funeral and it is then I will know if I failed or I succeeded and graduated”… (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Well, I had better close for now… “ I have dreams to follow and maybe be someone’s rainbow”, but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

And so, my friend, no matter how dark the skies, listen to your heart, because “The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.” – (Joel Brown)
 

Gone, dreams of the past
Gone, with a love that moved too fast
Gone, bright shiny days
Gone, in a young and restless haze
Why did we love, then run away
So little time, so much left to say
And now, it’s gone

Young and restless friend
You’ll never pass this way again
So drink the summer wine
Reach for the stars
While you have time
Your restless heart
It will lead the way
So dream your dreams and live for each day
While you are young, while you are young
While you are young

“It is not the image without, but the love within that matters” on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking while being different, being me… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )

I woke up to a pleasant Saturday morning on the green side of the grass (not under it 🙂 )…

And ready to follow Hollianne Boucher’s advice…

Your chance to live is now, so what are you waiting for?
The world is yours for the taking and so much more.
Endless possibilities are forever at your disposal.
The chance to live another day is life’s golden proposal.

Never let anyone tear you down,
And never let anyone steal your shine and make you frown.
So will you sit in the shadows and let darkness win again?
Or will you rise up and make the light your friend?
(Hollianne Boucher)

And Mark Twain’s advice…
“It is not the size of the dog in a fight that matters, it is the size of the fight in the dog”.. Mark Twain

Hello Diary,

Tomorrow is Sunday, Easter Sunday for some in this universe and a time of celebration… I am not into religion myself, but if everyone were like me it would be a dull, mundane world indeed.. 🙂 for those of the faith ( and for everyone regardless of ones belief) hope that tomorrow (and every day) is filled with peace, love and happiness, life is all that you wish for it to be and your wishes and beliefs come true… 🙂

My late wife (married 51 years) Kathy..

Passed away near 2 weeks before Easter Sunday in 2015 after dealing with cancer for near 4 years… a few days before her passing she was visited by a Chaplain.. she (the Chaplain) ask Kathy if she had a religion and Kathy said “No”… she then ask Kathy if she believed in the hereafter and Kathy said “Yes”.. The Chaplain said “Good, it is what is in the heart that matters, not a name above a door”…

Sooooooooooo, Diary, whatever you may or not believe, whatever your dreams may be, perhaps consider the words of the Chaplain and also Roy T. Bennett; “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett

And when one takes time to contemplate, every creature has dreams, knows love and heartbreak, knows sorrow and happiness, has had some days like diamonds and some days like stone, sooooooooo in spite of those who may believe otherwise, perhaps we are not so different… 🙂 “Maybe I’m not so different from everyone else after all. It’s like somebody gave me a puzzle, but I don’t have the box with the picture on it. So I don’t know what the final thing is supposed to look like. I’m not even sure if I have all the pieces.” Sharon M. Draper

And on Sunday I will not be dancing in the rain but waltzing among the tulips (and daylilies).. 🙂

In my not so secret garden…

I live in a not so secret garden
Along the path least traveled,
Quite unlike the other world
A world that has become unraveled.

A garden of peace and harmony
Being different does not matter here,
All creatures, big and small, living together
Unlike the other world, they do not live in fear.

Together we live the hand that Fate has dealt us
Not sure, or dwell, on our final destiny,
But live to enjoy the moment, the hour, the day
That is what life is about, don’t you see.

So into the not so secret garden I will venture
Along the path least traveled,
To find love, understanding, to follow one’s dreams
Unlike the other world unraveled.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Being the free spirit that I am..

A Spirit Born Free…

While sipping a spot of tea
And relaxing in the morning time,
While contemplating my tomorrows
Thought I’d pen some thoughts that rhyme.

As I venture through my life
With each step, all the while being me,
An open mind, a heart of dreams
A spirit, enjoying being free.

A spirit that views another
As another feels, wishes to be,
In a realm of acceptance
So another can enjoy being free.

Free…. to love another
No color, gender or race,
Only to know and feel happiness
No social walls to face.

Free to live life as one chooses
Fallow a dream, the heart would say,
Free to walk ones own path of life
Filled with adventures along the way.

There are those who would color me different
Many to gaze upon me with dismay,
But unlike them, I’ve found happiness
Because I chose to live life my way.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

I had better close… life is calling, dreams to chase, adventures to find…busy, busy, busy… “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” -(Maria Robinson ).. but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise… 🙂

One more thing Diary… no matter who or where you are, no matter what you believe or not, no matter what dreams you have, for today, Sunday (and every day) do not let negative voices add darkness and doubt in your life, for in your own way you are beautiful and unforgettable…

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.. For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.. And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” (Audrey Hepburn)
 

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Pretty yellow black and white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Chorus; Everything is beautiful
In it’s own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter’s day

Chorus; And everybody’s beautiful
In their own way
Under God’s heaven
The world’s gonna find a way

There is none so blind
As he who will not see
We must not close our minds
We must let our thoughts be free

For every hour that passes by
You know the world gets a little bit older
It’s time to realize that people lies
In the eyes of the beholder

Chorus…

We shouldn’t care about the length of his hair
Of the color of his skin
Don’t worry about what shows from without
But the love that lives within

We’re gonna get old again now
Everything is gonna work out fine
Just take a little time to the calm good side my friend
And spittle in out in your mind

Chorus..

“As my world is in a constant state of change, tomorrow my world will change, my future world will still be a mystery and today’s world will become history and a memory…” (Larry “Dutch” Woller) on the path least traveled…..

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking while being different, being me… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )

There are those that dream of success and the wealth it brings but I am far wealthier than they will ever be… 🙂

I’m far richer than the rich
Wealthier than the wealthy by far,
I have gold in the sun
I have silver in the star.

I have dreams that I follow
That are more precious than gold,
As I venture through life
Eagerly watching, the dreams unfold.

I have diamonds, too many to count
With each new fallen snow,
As I see each one sparkle
While basking in the suns glow.

The mornings bring nature’s painting
Priceless, a portrait of the sky,
Impossible to duplicate
Even though many did try.

Each bloom of the red rose
A ruby, one of a kind,
With the bloom of the white rose
A pearl comes to mind.

Money have I little
But wealth I have got,
And I don’t fit in with
The wealthy and rich lot.

But I’m not going to change
A wealthy dreamer I’ll stay,
Until the rivers, they all run dry
Until the four winds, they all blow away.

(Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Hello Diary,

It is a quiet, cool Sunday morning after three to four days of rain… so far the creatures have not lined up in the street two by two but do have some water in the fields… 🙂

Setting here with a spot of tea while watching the sun rise and memories of friends of the past came to mind… friends I met in cyberspace since 1999… we would share a great deal over time about our worlds and the world in general… we never met or heard each others voices… one very good friend were June Clark… our paths crossed in 2005, she lived in Skendleby, England… she were a distant cousin to Elizabeth Barrett Browning and in years past June would write poems and articles under the name Chris Clark….

I penned some thoughts at her passing (that could apply to anyone I suppose)…

June
A friend and I parted today
June was her precious name,
Our eyes never met, voice never heard
But a dear friend just the same.

There is sorrow as I write this
A sadness in this heart of mine,
But knowing she’s free, suffer will she no more
All sorrow and sadness will heal… over time.

There will be happiness and joy
For dear June, this I know,
As she at last joins her loved ones
And to a place of peace and love they will go.

And knowing this I will be happy
Precious memories, to come back whenever,
For like love, memories are everlasting
From now…….. to the 12th of Never.
(penned by Larry Woller 2014)

The one topic of conversation June and I shared and had in common were war and conflict… she, of course, dealt with WWI and WWII… I dealt with Vietnam (that is me sitting on the ground 12th Marine Regiment Vietnam 1965-1966)..

We both (and everyone else) agreed that all war and conflict brought about were death, suffering, hate and anger, never solved anything… there are elements of world’s society that have not evolved a great deal since homo sapiens discovered the “club”… 🙂 “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom”. Isaac Asimov

But June and I, along with a fellow by the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. have hope and a dream… that one day the young people of this world will use the technology to learn and understand and grow to accept one another using the power of love and there will truly be “peace on earth and good will towards men”…. 🙂

I peer out my window
At a world..cold and bleak,
A world of conflict, anger and hate
Mortals are suffering as I speak.

But we have a dream
Martin, June and I,
That one day there will be peace
No more mortals will die.

And there is hope
Of a world filled with love one day,
A wish that could come true
For hope is the last to die…they say.

Not a world of race, color or gender
Nor closed minded ridicule or prejudice… you see,
But a world that respects another’s dream
Of what or who they wish to be.

So I peer out the window
Not with sadness, fear or sorrows
But a heart filled with a dream
Of all the peace and love filled tomorrows.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Well, I had better close… venture on down the path, eagerly awaiting what tomorrows adventures may bring… but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes

“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Keep a dream in your pocket and a song in your heart;
Keep the lamp of your learnin’ burnin’ bright.
Keep your eye on your horizon and a smile on your face
As you travel down the highway of your life.

Don’t listen to those voices that say it can’t be done;
They build walls where there was never one before.
No, there’s nothing that can stop you, nothing that can drag you down,
If you keep lookin’ for that ever-open door.

[Chorus:]
So if you follow your dream to the end of the road,
Taking care not to let it fade away (not fade away),
If you follow your dream and you follow it well,
It will lead you to the promise of a bright, shiny day.

Well, imagine if Columbus had not dreamt the world was round,
And Armstrong had not walked upon the moon,
If John and Paul never wrote a song for “Yesterday,”
If all of them had given up too soon.

Yes, they were always taking chances, looking for the answers
That took the whole world to higher ground.

[Chorus]

Keep a dream in your pocket,
Keep a dream in your heart.
Keep your dream forever;
Don’t let it fade away.

Keep a dream in your pocket,
Keep a dream in your heart.
Keep your dream forever;
Don’t let it fade away.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness, And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” (Audrey Hepburn) on the path least traveled….

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking while being different, being me… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )

A Quiet Sunday Morning…

A quiet Sunday morning to wake up to
Sitting, gazing out, with a spot of tea,
Contemplating today and my tomorrows
Wondering, what will the future be.

A quiet Sunday morning, life is calling
Beckoning on the path, its mysteries many unfold,
Each to explore and treasure
One day to become a memory to behold.

A quiet Sunday morning, birds chirping
Another day to learn and explore about me.
It is my life.. only I can live it
So will do it my way.. don’t you see.

A quiet Sunday morning, of me being different
Reminding me of words from a song,
Where do I fit in, one would ask
One wonders, where do I belong.

A quiet Sunday morning, here on the path
At the end… on the horizon… lies my rainbow,
It is there my answers lie… the truth is known
Until then, only Fate and destiny will know.

Yes, a quiet Sunday morning, spirit, body and mind at the ready
To seek that rainbow… perhaps around the next bend,
Once found, I’ll have my answers, destiny known
And that will be the beginning, not the end.
(Penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )
Hello Diary,

It is a Sunday, cloudy and rain with possible thunderstorms later today… a few early risers going about their day before the weather moves in…:)

Having a leisurely day doing a few chores and planning for the tomorrows.. thought I would take a break in the morning and share a few thoughts… mentioned the other day the Coopers hawk, well later in the week saw a Red Tail hawk..

The backyard residents were in the brush pile and the red tail hawk didn’t have any better luck getting anyone to come out and play than the Coopers hawk.. don’t you just hate it when that happens… 🙂 well, when the days seem dark, the future looks uncertain, there is always hope!… 🙂

HOPE IS

Hope is a feather floating in a bright blue sky
Hope is that sparkle that shines in your eyes.
Hope is a butterfly fluttering on the wind
Hope is good times spent with family and friends.

Hope is a newborn baby’s cry
Hope is a Mother’s lullaby.
Hope is the rainbow after a rain
Hope is the harvest of golden grain.

Hope is the light that keeps darkness at bay
Hope is the breeze on a hot summer day.
Hope is ever present and free of cost
Hope is the last thing ever lost.

Hope is staying positive when the going gets tough
Hope is seeking help when you feel you’ve had enough.
Hope is recovery from simmering sorrow
Hope is believing in a brighter tomorrow.
(Linda Hotger)

And sometimes one has to take the path least traveled.. “The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no man has ever been before.” (Francis Phillip Wernig)

So it is down the path I (and possibly the hawks) do venture… 🙂

I awoke one morning, alone, in history’s past..
Left with a heart full of memories, a decision to make,
Confronted with two paths to my destiny..
Heart and mind to decide which one to take.

Take the one most traveled, the logical safe choice…
The one chosen by the multitudes..the human race,
Like sheep, following a path determined by another…
No self identity, all bearing the same face.

A path whose direction is chosen by a few
The rest to follow, ever so blind,
Their destiny not chosen by their own hand
Their fate determined, by a closed mind.

The other path less traveled, mysterious and unknown
Where one can be different, like me I confess,
Without fear of ridicule, bigotry  and hate
A path filled with love… and happiness.

A path where one can follow ones dreams
An open mind to see what others do not,
To live a life guided by one’s heart
While the other path one cannot.

Decision made, with eyes on the horizon
It’s down the path least traveled I do venture,
Excitement fills the air, a smile on the face
Looking forward to a great adventure.

My fate will be unknown, what lies ahead unsure
I do not know…. what my destiny will be,
But one thing will be certain, written in stone
I shall venture down that path …..being “ME“.
          (penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Well, I had better close, maybe batten down the hatches a bit, venture down the path to look for that ole rainbow and maybe “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” (Maya Angelou) while getting ready for the next adventure… but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Remember, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” (M. Scott Peck )

Believe in yourself and your dreams “Find out who you are and be that person. That’s what your spirit was put on this Earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth and everything else will come.” Ellen DeGeneres

For “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” -Maria Robinson .. but only if you want to… 🙂

When there’s a shadow, you follow the sun.
When there is love, then you look for the one.
And for the promises, there is the sky.
And for the heavens are those who can fly.

If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.

When there’s a journey, you follow a star.
When there’s an ocean, you sail from afar.
And for the broken heart, there is the sky.
And for tomorrow are those who can fly.

Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d’aile
Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d’aile,
d’aile…

If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.

Love, Hope, Peace and Understanding on the path least traveled….

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )

May have dark skies looming, the path may be a bit bumpy and filled with unknown, but here on the path I have hope.. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.” Emily Dickinson

Hope…

Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.
(Henry Van Dyke )

Hello Diary,

It is a Sunday morning, a wintry morning with March coming in like a polar bar instead of a lion… 🙂

A somewhat leisurely day planned, and with winter still present, contemplating doing some needed dusting and house cleaning next week… although I will more than likely follow Rose Milligan’s advice… 🙂

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better
to paint a picture, or write a letter,
bake a cake, or plant a seed.
Ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must, but there is not much time,
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear, and books to read,
friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world’s out there
with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
a flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
this day will not come round again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go, and go you must,
you, yourself, will make more dust!

(Rose Milligan)

I took some time this morning to browse cyberspace and I was dismayed at the amount of suffering the children of this planet earth are feeling and having to deal with… children of all ages.. they did not ask to be brought into this world, for the most part they are not able to defend or even speak for themselves… they are the future of this world/universe and to treat the children in such a manner is inexcusable nor justified… for the most part caused by the actions of a element of world society in the name of something or someone…

Well, irregardless of their origins, (as I have said in the past) they have no need to fear here… “The greatest challenge in life is to be our own person and accept that being different is a blessing and not a curse”.. Kilroy Oldster

And, Diary, while you are aware of my helping here on the path, I also try to help in some manner in other places as well with what limited resources I have… “When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” Helder Camara

In history’s past I penned some thoughts that rhyme about children…

Maybe No More Children Will Die

I sat here looking at the news
The powers wanted peace they say,
And while they spoke, bombs were dropped
20 children died that day!

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give PEACE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

Smiles on their faces, while shaking hands
Arms deals for defense would come into play,
A bomb went off in a crowded market
10 children died that day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give a world without bombs a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

A war to end all wars, they said
Yet to war they always return,
Death, destruction, suffering and pain
Won’t they ever understand and learn?

What’s wrong with this idea?
Let’s give UNDERSTANDING and LEARNING a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.

Anger versus anger, hate versus hate
Seeds sown by war at home and away,
Starvation , sickness, a mother in tears
More and more children die every day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give LOVE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.
( Larry “Dutch” Woller,)

Well, I had better close for now… my Kindle and a pot of tea awaits… maybe even write some more thoughts that rhyme… 🙂 … but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Perhaps with more love, learning, understanding and peace instead of hate, intolerance and prejudice no child on earth will have to sing this song…. 🙂

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn” on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking… 🙂

( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 )

Diary, “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart and mind, I usually make the right decision” and “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Journey of Self Discovery…

What I am
Who I want to be
Am I just a stranger in this dinosaur world,
or my is existence limited to rest ,eat and pee.

Every day is a new day ,
I try to discover myself,
The identity crisis lulls over me,
In calm, yet monstrous glee,
Failing to find what exactly constitutes my being.

One day I want to be a doctor,
Other day an engineer,
Or even a scientist,
The society decides my ambition,
What career to pursue is guided by secure future norms,
They say I have a lunatics mind,
Persuade my mother to put some sense into me.

Enough is said,
I my setting on a journey of my own,
The mistakes I make shall be mine,
The regrets shall be my defined,
Its fall or rise,
Time will play a key role,

As Frost said,
I have an option of two paths ahead of me,
One pre decided by my ancestors,
less risky and challenging,
Other of my own,
I decide to take the less traveled one,
To mark on journey of my own.
(Illahi Bedi)

Hello Diary,

Well, it is a Tuesday morning… somewhat quiet, foggy and cool… without winter white or spring green a rather bleak looking day… 🙂

But change is in the winds, another storm approaching from the west, should be rain…

But the temperature will be close enough I am preparing for possible ice… I have learned to prepare for the worst and then should it happen, I am ready… I have learned a good many things over time… 🙂

I have learned that building ones life is like building a house…. “A house that is built with patience, understanding and love will withstand the strongest winds of difficulties and conflict , a house built with a closed mind, insincerity and haste will collapse in a mere breeze of discontent.” (Larry “Dutch” Woller )

I have learned that life is like the Boston Marathon… one does not just start running but take the time to prepare for the event, to set ones goals.. “Any piece of knowledge I acquire today has a value at this moment exactly proportioned to my skill to deal with it. Tomorrow, when I know more, I will recall that piece of knowledge and use it better. “ (Mark van Doren) and that speed is not important but to follow ones goals to the finish line..

I have learned to accept one as to how one’s spirit believes who/what they are, avoid social labels…

“I believe gender is a spectrum, and I fall somewhere between Channing Tatum and Winnie the Pooh.” ( Stephen Colbert)

I have learned that there is a element of world’s society that will stop at nothing to prevent one from following one’s dreams, to be what and whom one wishes to be… I have learned never to allow those voices to intimidate one to quit living one’s life, to follow one’s dream…

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victors cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit!
(Wade Watts)

I have learned that as long as one tries to live up to the expectations of others instead of being true to oneself, one will never be free…. “Becoming free is learning about yourself; the scared and the insecure, the brilliant and the bold. Embrace both and the journey is yours and yours alone. No longer are you following another’s directions and your path and purpose will present themselves. Only then might you find another wandering soul doing the same thing, who can walk with you but on their own journey. All of a sudden you might find a shared passion and a wrinkled map on the trail that makes sense.” (Riitta Klint)

I have learned that while a many cherish their material wealth, I am more wealthy than they will ever be…

A Wealthy Dreamer Am I…

I’m far richer than the rich
Wealthier than the wealthy by far,
I have gold in the sun
I have silver in the star.

I have dreams that I follow
That are more precious than gold,
As I venture through life
Eagerly watching, the dreams unfold.

I have diamonds, too many to count
With each new fallen snow,
As I see each one sparkle
While basking in the suns glow.

The mornings bring nature’s painting
Priceless, a portrait of the sky,
Impossible to duplicate
Even though many did try.

Each bloom of the red rose
A ruby, one of a kind,
With the bloom of the white rose
A pearl comes to mind.

Money have I little
But wealth I have got,
But I don’t fit in with
The wealthy and rich lot.

But I’m not going to change
A wealthy dreamer I’ll stay,
Until the rivers, they all run dry
Until the four winds, they all blow away.

(Larry “Dutch” Woller 8-10-2018)

I have learned that sometimes I tend to ramble on so I had better close for now (is that cheering I hear? 🙂 ).. I have some more learning to do for as a teacher once told me “the day I need not gather anymore knowledge was the day of my funeral”… 🙂 but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Well, I am not sure how much more time destiny has planned for me in this mortal world, but however long it may be I have learned to follow my heart and to live my life my way… 🙂