Poetry Like Fire: The Pursuit of What Matters by JJC

The Pursuit of What Matters
by JJC

Day in and day out, we strive to keep up with our families and friends
We want the big car, the suburban home and lifestyle, the new gadgets
What has life come to mean these days?
Despite our affluence, our moods are darkened.
We worry about everything as if we could change something
Core values are long abandoned. Mistrust is everywhere.
We compete against others and ourselves. Happiness is hard to come
We seem to forget that people's ability to act on behalf of
What matters to them is fundamental to happiness

It is time to get out of this false sense of comfort and security
It is time to explore our environments and appreciate the small things
That are keen on bringing the most joy to us
It is time to fall in love once again with our childhood games and stories
It is time to realize that happiness is not a given. It is a goal that can set us free
But pursuing what truly matters is worth the effort

Healing Art Touch: Touch Me Here, Do Not Touch Me There

Healing Art Touch: Touch Me Here, Do Not Touch Me There


Touch is connecting

Touch is bonding. It is healing and communicative

Even newborns can relate to it

Touch is an essential form of human communication

We touch to support and comfort

We poke; we nudge; we hug; we grip elbows

We tap knees and pat others' back

We fling our arms around others

We give bear hugs


Friends, acquaintances, and colleagues giggle, dole out hugs

Give shoulder rubs and high fives

"Keep your hands to yourselves" cry the corporate lawyers and HR managers.

It is just a reminder of what the kindergarten teacher taught years ago

When is touching appropriate in our world these days?

When is it a friendly sign of affection at school, church or at the workplace?

HR managers cringe it may interpreted as a sexual come on.

Yet, the psychologist agrees touch is a great way to express empathy, sympathy.

We embrace those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones

We back slap a player on the gridiron and baseball field

Keep your hands off; keep them to yourself!

In politics and at the workplace, keep your hands off of pretty interns,

pregnant women and your boss

How long will it take you to understand and appreciate all the huggings

going on in the next cubicle? How long will it take you to fall for

all the arm pattings, shoulder squeezing and stroking going on around us?

Are you petrified yet? Then just remain frozen by inaction.

Our actions reverberate and touch others whether we want it or not

We are interdependent in this global village