Welcome to our circus

 

Welcome to our circus

It pulls in quite the crowd

For it charges no admission

And says all welcomed and allowed

We hope that you’ll enjoy it here

But one thing if I may

Once here we’ll tell you what to feel

And think and do and say

We’ll tell you when to smile

And we’ll tell you when to cry

We’ll tell you what is best for you

And try to tell you why

But what’s best for the tiger

Isn’t what’s best for the clown

And the tightrope walker’s main concern

Is falling to the ground

For some it’s no big deal

And for some it’s life and death

But we all are playing Ringmaster

And thinking we know best

And if you dare to disagree

And if you speak your mind

We’ll attack behind our curtain

Whilst on stage we roar #bekind

We’ll tell you that you’re wrong

Although we’ll never hear your point

For we’re far too busy listening

To our own self-righteous voice

So welcome to our circus

Where you’re criticised for free

But whoops, did I say circus?

I meant society

*****

Becky Hemsley 2020

Artwork by Evelyn Edmeades

This poem is from Talking to the Wild

Source: Becky Hemsley Poetry on Facebook

Living A Simpler Life

 

Living A Simpler Life

The simpler your life,

the happier you will be.

Not because life becomes easier,

but because less stands between you

and the miracle of being alive.

When the mind is free of clutter,

the heart remembers its own rhythm.

When there is space in the day,

peace has somewhere to rest.

We spend years gathering things,

until our days grow crowded

and our souls grow tired.

Then one morning we discover

that peace was never lost.

It was waiting beneath the weight

of all we carried.

To live simply is not to live less.

It is to return to what matters.

And perhaps happiness is simply arriving fully where you are,

carrying only what is needed,

and finding that what remains

is simply enough.

~ 'Living A Simpler Life' by Spirit of a Hippie

~Mary Anne Byrne

~ Art by Faithful Grace

Restore The Broken - Face To Face (Zach Williams Cover)

 

Face To Face

by Zach Williams

Album: Rescue Story

Chorus

When we all see Jesus

When we all see Jesus

No more sickness, no more madness, no more pain

When we all see Jesus face to face

Verse 1

Oh, I'm a traveler far from home

I get lost but I press on

There's a mansion in streets of gold

Where I belong

Verse 2

Yes, there's a day coming soon

Where the old will be made new

And Heaven's glory shines like the morning

Before our eyes

Chorus

When we all see Jesus

When we all see Jesus

No more sickness, no more madness, no more pain

When we all see Jesus face to face

Verse 3

Then we will sing with angel voices

There will be a great rejoicing

Holy holy, worthy worthy

Is the Lamb, oh

Chorus

When we all see Jesus

Yes, when we all see Jesus

No more sickness, no more madness, no more pain

When we all see Jesus face to face

Yeah, when we all see Jesus face to face

I'm at peace.

Source: Stephanie Bennett-Henry on Facebook

ai artwork by me

 

They Ground You

 

The Right People Don't Drain You; They Ground You

The right people don't drain you; they ground you.

They show up like shade on a warm afternoon, like rain falling softly on thirsty earth.

With them, you do not have to perform the exhausting ritual of proving your worth.

You do not have to polish your wounds, translate your silences, or carry your heart as evidence for your existence.

You are allowed to simply be.

And in that permission, something sacred happens.

The breath deepens.

The shoulders soften.

The mind loosens its grip on all the things it was never meant to carry alone.

The right people are not those who demand your energy to keep themselves warm.

They are those who sit beside your fire without asking you to burn brighter.

They do not pull you away from yourself.

They return you to yourself.

Again and again.

Like roots finding water.

Like a river remembering the shape of its own bed.

Like a bird, after a long season of wandering, recognizing the way home.

Their presence is not loud, but life-giving.

Not consuming, but nourishing.

Not a constant taking, but a gentle exchange where both souls leave with more than they brought.

And perhaps that is how you know.

Not by the intensity.

Not by the drama.

Not by how much of yourself you are willing to sacrifice.

But by the peace.

By the quiet settling of your spirit.

By the way your heart stops bracing for impact.

By the way you leave their presence not smaller,

not emptied,

not exhausted,

but rooted.

Steady.

Whole.

More yourself than before.

And in a world that often mistakes chaos for connection,

that kind of grounding is its own form of love.

~ 'The Right People Don't Drain You; They Ground You' by Spirit of a Hippie

Mary Anne Byrne

~ Art by Michelle Johnson

Source: Spirit of a Hippie on Facebook

Imagine a world...

Imagine a world where every action springs from a place of genuine kindness.

When faced with negativity, instead of mirroring it, pause and let your heart guide you.

Think about how you cherish being treated with respect and understanding.

This feeling becomes your internal guide, your moral compass, always pointing you toward empathy and integrity.

Your actions, driven by this compass, become your signature. They reveal your true character to the world, showcasing your values and beliefs.

If you desire kindness and respect from others, then offer those gifts freely.

Choose to act with honesty and compassion, letting your heart lead the way. Because ultimately, acting from the heart creates a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same, building a world where kindness thrives and negativity diminishes.

C.E. Coombes

Image via Pinterest

Source: Bring Side on Facebook

Kaz Hawkins - Sail On (Orchestral Version)