In the Times Which Try a Man

I read ‘Invictus’ at least once a day. I find it motivating on good days, and comforting on not-as-good days. Today, for reasons only the Universe knows, I found it inspiring – as in, ‘Go write a thing,’ inspiring. So I wrote a thing.

Here’s the thing.

 

In the Times Which Try a Man

In the times which try a man,
His courage and his soul,
Shall he fail or shall he stand
To face the night alone?

Shall he bend his neck to fate,
A conquered, broken beast?
Or march bravely to the gate
And claim his honored seat?

Oh my heart and all I am,
From gods born unto earth,
Beat the song and dance the dance,
So I may prove my worth.

Bring me all wisdom can show,
And to my brothers, too.
Bring us the unburdened souls
Of men who know the truth.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

Friday Morning FYI – 5/8/2015

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI, my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

This week’s FYI is inspired by a recent series of conversations with an iceberg (read on, it’ll make sense):

Some people are dull as laundry, while others are forces of nature. If you listen to someone, they’ll tell you (through and below their words) whether they’re a dirty sock or a tornado; a sullied pillow case or an eclipse (even if they don’t know or believe it). Which you prefer is up to you. I’ll take the force of nature every time.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

Friday Morning FYI – 5/1/2015

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI, my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

This week’s FYI is all about freestyling life:

Life doesn’t want to be scripted. It wants to flow around and through you, presenting you with possibilities so you can surprise it and yourself, plans be damned. And thank goodness.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

A brief observation on tree climbing and Isaac Newton

Well lookie here, a post not-about writing. Weird, I know, but I’m feeling a little philosophical today, and don’t want to wait until the next Friday Morning FYI. Warning: this may be a little unorganized. Stream of consciousness, and all that. Indulge me 🙂

During a recent conversation, a friend mentioned tree climbing, and it’s been stuck in the back of my mind ever since – leaning back with it’s arm folded and feet on the coffee table, grinning mockingly, waiting for me to figure out why it struck a cord.

It’s not because an adult talking about climbing trees is odd to me (just the opposite – I was glad to hear it). It’s not because it was a strange thing for that friend to say. It fit her perfectly. So why?

And then, on the train this morning, with innumerable trees swinging and dancing past my window, it hit me: Newton’s Third Law: For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction.

At this point, the tree climbing idea nodded and winked at me. Enigmatic little devil.

See, I’ve recently been doing a lot of research on different physics topics for my WIP, so Newton’s Third Law (which tells us that when you push against something, it pushes back) was itching at the edge of my memory, too. Apparently it and the tree climbing idea wanted to hang out and play Trivia Crack, or something.

So what’s the connection? Think about this: if something pushes back when you push it, that means when you climb into a tree, the tree responds by lifting you. Like it wants you to go higher. Like it enjoys you being with it, in it.

I. Love. That. So. Much. (and kind of hate myself for not seeing it before)

Oh, look. Now I’m feeling a bit poetic. Hmm.

Oh, blessed inspiration – from words to heart to words. Now I just need to find a strong tree to climb and sit in and write.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

 

Friday Morning FYI – 4/24/2015

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI, my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

This week’s FYI is about being open instead of sheltered:

There are amazing, kind, funny, brilliant people all around you-but along with your eyes, your mind must be open to see them. Get out of your head and into the world.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}