THE WELL

I dive into the well of myself
Exploring the myriad of sides to my being
Discovering the blossoming flowers of
            intellect, wisdom, and talent
Pushing through the crumbling shell
            of insecurity and fear

This is a completely new person I find
Full of glistening buds of creativity
Awaiting the proper fertilizer
            to signal them to burst into full realization
When in full bloom the world and I
            will be stunned by the vast array of colors I will create

                    by Ilene - 8/7/97

WE'RE DIFFERENT

I cannot change who I am
and I really never try.
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why

If I appear peculiar,
there's nothing I can do.
You must accept me as I am
just as I will accept you.

God made a casting of each life,
then threw the old away.
Each child is different from the rest,
unlike as night and day.

So often we will criticize,
the things that others do
Don't you know they do not think
the same as me and you.

So God in all his wisdom,
who knows us all by name
Didn't want us to get bored,
that's why we're not the same.

      [-- author unknown]

STICK TO IT

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;
Beginners are many, but enders are few.
Honor, power, place and praise
Will always come to the one who stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;
Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;
For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile
Will come life's victories, after a while.

      [-- author unknown]

VITAL KNOWLEDGE

Everybody Knows:

        You can't be all things to all people.
        You can't do all things at once.
        You can't do all things equally well.
        You can't do all things better than everyone else.
        Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So:

        You have to find out who you are, and be that.
        You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
        You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
        You have to learn not to compete with others,
        Because no one else is in the contest of *being you*.

Then:

        You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
        You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
        You will have learned to live with your limitations.
        You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
        And you'll be a most vital mortal.

Dare To Believe:

        That you are a wonderful, unique person.
        That you are a once-in-all-history event.
        That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
        That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
        And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.