Pursuing Excellence

by

Balance

English: Circus tent A circus visits Pittencri...

English: Circus tent A circus visits Pittencrieff Park nearly every year. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My life has been a circus tent.

I’m learning how to juggle.

I set up a great big show.

No crowd could burst my bubble.

I’d spin a plate.  I’d throw a ball.

I’d run about, AMAZE!

I had the happy crowd abuzz

with each new feat

on stage.

But, it got harder

and harder to impress.

So many balls and plates

an inevitable mess.

Until balance seemed an impossible circus trick,

and I needed a real-life balancing act.

So, I asked the Ring-leader how it could all be done

and He a-light and full of fun

surprisingly replied,

“just spin one plate.”

© 2007 DarEll S. Hoskisson

Bone Marrow Donor Opportunities

Bone Marrow Donor Opportunities

 http://marrow.org/Home.aspx

Want the chance to save a life?  All they need at first is a swab in your mouth.  Check out this website for more information.

There are two ways you can help someone.  One is with the marrow taken from bone, another is from cells removed from your blood.

I tried but was rejected because of some of my skeletal problems.  But, it might be the perfect option for you to save someone just by sharing what you already have.

Check it out!  Love, DarEll

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Walk to cure diabetes

Want to find a way to exercise and help others, but not an athlete or able to run long distances?

You might try this way to WALK to help cure Diabetes.  They have walks all over the United States and it doesn’t split up families.  Children and teens can participate, too.

You can even sign up to get notifications of a walk in your area.

Check it out.  Love, DarEll

walk.jdrf.org

 

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How can I discover my best use or where I have an “edge”?

Check out the work of Marcus Buckingham. http://standout.tmbc.com He writes fantastic books and they have tests that help you learn a lot about yourself. His mission is to help you reach your potential. Strengthsfinder helps you know your strengths so you can capitalize on them. StandOut takes what you would do in situations and uses that information to help you know how to apply your strengths to best advantage. They are both fabulous if you are seeking either self-knowledge or keys to best directing yourself. I highly recommend this author. Also, not a bad idea for people trying to decide what to major in or what career to pursue.

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VICTORY

Mountain Climber type of guy

Mountain Climber type of guy (Photo credit: HikingArtist.com)

Flying across the finish line,
Floating into tomorrow,
I wonder if my feet will ever
touch the ground again.

How are you?
I’m awesome.
I feel fabulous.
I wish I could share.

It tastes so good,
no one could resist
going after some more.
At least I can’t.

I wish I could give it away,
but I can’t.
This fab fountain erupts
from the inside out.

Hard work, skinned knees,
talking back to
discouragement and,
persevering are SO worth it.

A guttural scream of happiness
escapes me as I reach
for the sky.
EEEEEEEEEEEEAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

Gimme some more.
I love to learn.
Love to earn.
Oooh, VICTORY
feels so good on me!

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson

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Drowning in Housework

My back to the ocean,

photo courtesy Carrie Keohane

photo courtesy Carrie Keohane

I didn’t see them coming.

I just kept getting knocked off my feet

and spun upside down in a salty somersault.

The flat spots grew piles,

The floor oozed grit,

The dishes dried on dirty

and all my efforts were always spent

just trying to get my head back in the air

and keep it up, treading water.

In a herculean effort I would jump

to clean with all my might to stay ahead of the next wave.

It would be beautiful

for a glorious moment,

but by the next day, whump.

Back to normal.

Floors sucking on the dirty clothes,

dust bunnies propagating,

hungry children.

I need a shower.

My head down, I’m drowning again

with my feet sprawling overhead.

I knew I couldn’t keep this up.

Desperate, I felt almost dead.

I was smothered in the life

ironically chosen by myself.

It kept pushing me under

over and over again.

I couldn’t catch the pattern.

I didn’t know about the tide.

My great expectations and reality

would constantly collide.

I had to turn and face the waves.

I had to run out to meet them as they’d come.

I had to plan for the surprises, too.

I simply had to find the sun.

By preparing and maintaining,

though I could not stop the tide,

my life got routinely easier than

going along for that ride.

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson

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Trust

That there is enough time
for what must be done.
That if there isn’t,
there is another way.

That the future
is not predictable.
That dark clouds do
lighten up with time.

That improvement will
come with persistent practice.
That doing it badly is just
part of beginning.

That persistence wins
over failure
if the lessons
are not lost.

That unendurable things
really are endurable.
That one step at a time
is all anyone can take.

That rushing is not
necessarily more productive.
That capability often
exceeds expectations.

That while not omnipotent,
I am potent.
That although

Leap... Leap… (Photo credit: . : : v i S H a l : : .)

invisible,
my actions have impact.

That small things add up.
That attitude matters.
That something done badly
may be better than not done at all.

That tomorrow will come.
That the future is worth planning for,
and that positive changes now will
eventually bring positive outcomes.

That someone is watching me.
That someone cares.
That help is available.
That I am known.

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson

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Homecoming

The familiar landscape
catches my breath
and reels me in
toward home.

When the palms shadow
the sky along my road
I know
I’m almost there.

It is just how I left it.
Yet, somehow
it seems smaller.
I sense the changes.

Rip Van Winkle’s shadow
plays tricks on my memory,
and I wonder,
“What was I expecting?”

That the world would
stand still just because
I was gone? or that
I would be the same,
simply because I feel
that way?

I left a child.
In Neverland,
I found my wings.
I want to fly away.

I never could have guessed
it would take so long to be grown.
But, for now at least,
I’m home.

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson