all that i am

sitting here listening to the foam on my coffee
so quiet this morning

the last time I sat here
I listened to the band marching
up and down the street
high school kids full of anticipation
for their upcoming road trip

I've been sitting here in the quiet
every opportunity I get
doing
what is right in front of me
in my own little world

thankful for
painting
unable for words
painting
darkness and light

starting with broad strokes of dark
ending with the the final brightest light

thinking about being young
thinking about love
trying to answer the questions that rage within me
listening to the quiet

the young parents
of so many of the little ones lost
say their children were such little artists
little ones who created
little ones who loved

"what now should we do?"

and in love's actions words return
"do the next right thing"
right where you are
each in our own little world

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. 

       Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. 

      Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. 

     Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. 

     Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. 

    Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. 

   Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. 
    It was never between you and them anyway.
The Paradoxical Commandments, by Dr. Kent Keith

If I ever become a saint
I will continue to be absent from heaven 
to light the earth 
those in darkness 
     ~ Mother Teresa

these incredible gifts
this little life
this little love
it's no small thing
it's all we've got