Dreams (redux)

(I wrote this in a coffee shop on one of the busiest intersections of New York City)

In the depths of the city, diverse with anger
My heart turns cold, my humanity’s in danger
I came to make a name
I came to change the game
I came to claim the fame
I came to clear my shame

In the depths of the city, billboards promising new life
My mind’s spinning fast, rejection cuts like a knife
I’m here, but don’t know where to go
I’m here, but lost my way to the show
I’m here, but haven’t found my song
I’m here, but not sure for how long

In the depths of the city, success ‘round every corner, not far ahead
I’m almost there, I can see it now, but traffic light is stuck on red
I’m making good time, but getting quickly passed
I’m pretending to be first, but in reality last
I’m wide awake, but can’t wake up
I’m dry with thirst, but have no cup

Dreams, they make you
Dreams, they break you
Dreams, they mock you
Dreams, they take you to places unknown

Dreams, they shake you
Dreams, they fake you
Dreams, they shape you
Dreams, they take you to places unshown

In the depths of the city, invisible, masses drown my being
I’m shouting out loud, waving my hands, but can’t be seen
I’m rare, I have to remind
I’m unique, one of a kind
I’m one in a billion
I’m lost in the million

In the depths of the city, our eyes look away, as bodies collide
Fake smiles, firm handshakes, while fear works hard to hide
Look at me, I’m fine and strong
Look at me, I can do no wrong
I turn away, I’ve got regrets to bury
I run away, tired of burdens I carry

In the depths of the city, I’ve found my breath, I’ve found my voice
I look past the shallow, I see behind the curtain, I rise above the noise
Weariness my invigoration
Brokenness my declaration
Woundedness my inspiration
Confession my liberation

Dreams, they make you
Dreams, they break you
Dreams, they mock you
Dreams, they take you to places unknown

Dreams, they shake you
Dreams, they fake you
Dreams, they shape you
Dreams, they take you to places unshown

This is what I have learned…in no particular order

This is what I have learned…in no particular order.

It’s easier to eat an entire bowl of chips and guacamole than to eat just a few.

It’s easier to sit in my chair with my remote after a long day than go and serve someone in my community.

It’s easier to give up than to keep fighting.

It’s easier to stay bitter than to forgive.

It’s easier to start something than to finish something.

It’s easier to judge someone than walk in their shoes.

It’s easier to give into temptation than to walk away.

It’s easier to watch TV than to exercise.

It’s easier to get into bed than to get out of bed.

It’s easier to stereotype than to see each person as an individual.

It’s easier to understand karma than to understand Grace.

It’s easier to get into debt than to get out of debt.

It’s easier to question a decision than to make a decision.

It’s easier to impress people “once” than to consistently be impressive.

It’s easier to move on when things get tough than to stick it out.

It’s easier to ruin a relationship than to build one.

It’s easier to say “I have faith” than to “live by faith”.

It’s easier to play it safe and not get criticized than take a risk and feel the heat of the critics.

It’s easier to be in denial than to face the truth.

It’s easier to get “in” than get “out”.

It’s easier to do nothing and succeed than to try something and fail.

It’s easier to make your wedding vows than to keep your wedding vows.

It’s easier to be a spectator than a participant.

It’s easier to be popular than to be relevant.

It’s easier to say the safe thing and be liked than to say the hard thing and risk rejection.

It’s easier to speak 98% truth than to speak 100% truth.

It’s easier to say “someday” than to do it today.

It’s easier to sound impressive than to be impressive.

It’s easier to make a promise than keep a promise.

It’s easier to sign up for a 10k race than to run it.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

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