I’ve Learned…..
I’ve learned, never take your health for granted
it can be gone in a flash
then it’s aches, pains, frustration
as you can’t do what was once so easily done
I’ve learned, as I grow older I expect more from me
sometimes though it can’t be delivered
my mind says I’m 20, fit and strong
the body laughs with glee, then throws another pain at me
I’ve learned, friends don’t have to be ‘seen’
they live in this virtual machine
I have found some really good people
who reach out to me in my time of need
I’ve learned, love is precious, rare and good
it props me up, feeds my needs, makes me stronger
maybe it’s just an emotion, but it feels so much more
as I feel it fuel my desires, wants and hopes
I’ve learned, words are powerful, magical, sentient things
they swirl around me, feed my soul, nourish my mind
when they come from friends, afar or near
they make me glad to be alive
I’ve learned, that I’m stronger than I knew
life has a way of testing your strength, your reserves
it throws things at you that you never thought you could handle
toughens you up, or breaks you down, but never leaves you the same
I’ve learned, 3am is a lonely time in this world,
it’s quiet, still, not yet light, not yet dark time
that in between time when all things are possible or impossible
the doubts come rushing in to keep you company
I’ve learned, that an animal’s love in unconditional
they will stick with you through tears, meltdowns,
a pet will kiss your tears away, make you smile
time matters little to them, they just want you happy
I’ve learned, stubbornness is not a bad thing to have
this trait can help you over some of the roughest parts of life
I have had to rely on it many times lately
but it has pulled me through and I’m stronger for it
I’ve learned many things the past few months
and I have had to teach myself some others
In the end, I’ve found one precious thing
I’ve learned to love me again………….
I love this, Jackie. And I wish my 3 am was the same time zone as yours. ((hugs))
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Thanks kiddo. I wish it was too, because we could talk to each other! ((hugs))
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Actually I need to look this up…because more than likely I was already awake since mine comes before yours. Always feel free to try to email me in the middle of the night. I’ll either be awake and answer or you won’t be disturbing me and I’ll see it when I get up.
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I’ll do that then. Might be tonight at 3am, or is it Monday morning? I get so confused lol
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I feel these words as I so often feel your words. We age but remain the same. My mind says I’m 20 also but, well, my body is like a new babe. Taking small steps, not sure how to move my body and sometimes considering using diapers.
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Oh yes, I enjoyed reading this wonderful poem.
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Thank you my friend.
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Oh I feel you Kim. It’s amazing how the older we get the more backwards our bodies go. Sighhhhh
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I think learning to love you and knowing you is more lovable than you realised is a great step forward Jackie. Great reflection on your past weeks, all strength to you.
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Thank you Michael. Sometimes we are our own worse enemies. Learning to love ourselves is harder than it should be. As always good to see you make a visit.
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Agree, agree, agree!
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Thanks!
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*body covered in goose bumps* This was beautiful, Jackie! I think I have learned what you have learned. And I love how it ‘ain’t’ all bad! Loving yourself is key, without that you can’t have anything else! 🙂
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Thanks Maria. Yes, you are so right. If you don’t love yourself there is nothing else. 🙂
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You were reading my mind. As long as I don’t look in a mirror I still believe I am 20 and hate how my body betrays me, but like you I have learned to accept it and embrace who I am now.
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that’s the best way to be.
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It’s funny how our mind doesn’t really want to recognize the aging process. Inside we don’t feel much older at all, it’s the body that gives us lessons…I’m happy you’ve found the love for yourself again! That’s indeed a good place to be. My hugs to you my friend ❤
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My 85 yr old mother is the same about aging. I asked her once, how old she is when she looks in the mirror. She said she thinks of herself about 40. She sees 60 and she feels most days 80 lol. That pretty much sums it up.
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For a long time I thought of myself as 29ish. Now that I have matured, I think about myself as mid to upper thirties 🙂 It’s quite funny how we are…
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Now that’s a poem I can relate to. Yesterday I woke at 2:30, today at 3:33. What does one do at that hour of the morning and not disturb the rest of the sleeping world? I guess I’ll read blogs and get caught up. Mostly I fret over the amount of work that still needs to be done here and wonder where the money tree is hiding. An animal’s unconditional love is something I miss a lot but will probably not have again. My life is too unbalanced right now. I really hope you are healing. Getting older is hard enough without the body adding insult to injury. Hang in there. Hugs.
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Not much to do at 3am or so is there? That’s the time I worry about things too. Not a good time of day. I am healing, very slowly though. But I am older and a diabetic, so things heal a lot slower than I am liking. Hope you are doing well otherwise Marlene. big hugs.
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What a beautiful and inspiring poem, Jackie. I woke up at 3am and read this 😉
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So I’m not the only one who wakes up at 3am, go back to bed girl! lol 🙂 And thank you.
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