Pursuing Excellence

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Do Not Memorialize Me

When I die,
especially if I die a tragic or violent death,
do not memorialize me.

Do not give permanence to the pain.
Do not give the enemy fame.
Do not spend a dime on me
past what I need.
Do not pass on the painful story
to infect a new generation with worry.
Just let the deed die with me,
and instead, don’t live dead.

If you really want to honor me,
dare to dream and move ahead.
Explore, create, and find a way
to really live up to your best self.

And then, if that is not enough,
I know just what I would ask:
Love someone a little more.
Include someone who feels left out.
Share yourself to relieve the suffering or poor.
To honor me,
just help one more.

© 2012 DarEll S. Hoskisson

Written 9/11/12

Posted today as my thoughts are directed toward the memorial service of the police officer recently gunned down by the bombing suspects.

I wrote this last year in response to the controversial cost of the proposed memorial site of 9/11.  I mean absolutely no disrespect to those who feel that monuments are worth the costs involved.  I also mean no disrespect to anyone violently killed or otherwise who has died.  Of course people need to heal however is best for them.

Also, I understand the purpose of educating people to prevent future disasters.  My children are exposed for an entire month each year to the horrors of  Germany’s concentration camps.  This, to me, is complete overkill.  You don’t have to know every gory detail to make a better choice.

This poem simply expresses how I feel.   If there is to be a monument to me, I hope it would be a living one.  A living legacy, would be, to me, the most useful monument of all and perhaps the most meaningful.

–dsh

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Fifteen

English: Female surfer in Maui

English: Female surfer in Maui (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve asked many doctors
if there is a cure
for my common malady,
a case of teenager.

They each assure me it’s normal
but rich they’d surely be
if they could prevent the storms
most teens seem destined to see.

They say that just a few short years
is all it should reasonably take.
If waiting is the answer, then,
I pray my patience won’t break.

I wish I could keep you sheltered here
and ignore the reality of harm,
but you must learn to swim and swim hard,
not just on seas safe and warm.

I must let you struggle
and fight your way to strong.
One day I’ll see you proudly surfing
and know I wasn’t wrong.

© 2012 DarEll S. Hoskisson
written July 5, 2012
posted today in honor of my daughter’s last day of fifteen

A teen she knew from her high school just got shot and killed over the weekend. It isn’t something to take for granted, making it to sixteen. Always grateful for one more day with my family.

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Little Lesson

I watched a little squirrel

by Demetrius

by Demetrius

dash into the road.

Darting back and forth,

it couldn’t decide

which way to go.

Although the driver

tried to dodge,

it seemed impossible

to avoid it.

“If only,” I thought

“it would pick one direction

and just keep going.”

But to my sorrow,

it did not, and I felt

the sickening collision.

The poor little thing,

run over by indecision.

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson

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“Life is the real sport” –Annia Reyes

It is not getting everything done first,

Trophy

Trophy (Photo credit: cole24_)

or winning a big race.

It is not comparing yourself

or beating another’s pace.

It is not killing yourself

to keep a spotless house,

overscheduled and overwhelmed,

putting pressure on your spouse.

Working too hard is just as bad

as lazy, lethargic waste.

Keeping the big picture firmly in my mind,

the truth must be faced

That life IS now,

the journey.

and so if I constantly

overshedule and hurry,

I will lose in life along the way.

Others will not feel I care

or take the time to talk.

I may not even be there

for the ones that need me most

for intimate, quiet times

for simple, homemade meals together

for lullabies and nursery rhymes.

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson

The quote above I attribute to my most awesome first pilates teacher, Annia Reyes.  It is quite possible that others have said it before her and if you know of another the quote originally came from, you can please let me know.

I quote it here because to me it is such a perfect reminder of what we are trying to WIN at, and that often it is not what I think will make me happy that does.

Today I find myself overscheduled.  Yet, I still try to fit everything in, including writing my poem today.  In the big picture, I should have let it go, it is overstressing my life.  But, I find, even knowing better I can not resist the temptation to try to get 100% of my goal to write a poem each day this month.

And so, I have determined in the future to write my goals more specifically and with a range of success that leaves room for honestly living my priorities and not over-stressing my self or my family.  See my post Consistent for more thoughts on how it might be done.  –dsh

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The Martyr

Self-less, honored sacrifice

for a greater cause.

Or when a choice must be made,

risking all to save another.

Dangerous Risk Adrenaline Suicide by Fear of F...

Dangerous Risk Adrenaline Suicide by Fear of Falling (Photo credit: epSos.de)

But not a rule of kindness

to be followed hard and fast.

Constantly a martyr

is suicide at last.

© 2013 DarEll S. Hoskisson

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Every little mood I’m in

Dried green paint

Dried green paint (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Every little mood I’m in

Every little mood I’m in
colors every place I’ve been.

Spilling paint and splashing tints
imagination’s subtle hints

of what fortunes soon will come
pretending that it’s already done.

Tomorrows will all be like yesterday
painted in the very same way.

On they’ll go and on and on
drudging on as they’ve begun,

and hope bleeds out like runny ink,
and I won’t notice unless I think.

The paint for tomorrow is in my hand
the canvas white, clear on it’s stand.

The colors will be fresh, the picture new.
It might be green, or pink, or blue.

© 2007 DarEll S. Hoskisson (dsh)

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Comforting to realize

All the past

All the past,
my own
along with all who have ever lived,
every discovery,
every word written,
every whisper of legacy
whether good or bad
converges
into
one purpose:
To help me
live now
and
succeed beautifully
in the present,
one living moment
at a time.

© 2007 DarEll S. Hoskisson (dsh)

Where can I find a good gym? Where can I find classes or sports for Kids?

English: YMCA logo (international and USA)

English: YMCA logo (international and USA) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

YMCA

Healthy people, families and communities.  YMCA is more than a health club.

PS:  I was a member of my local YMCA and loved that just by participating, I was helping others, too.  Now, I work there and love that, too!

Check it out!  You will be surprised at the variety of classes and opportunities available at the Y.