Stop and Go

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Stop and Go

My goals in life were nebulous. I didn’t know quite what
it was that I most wanted—except out of my rut.
A picket fence and cottage were not part of my dream.
I didn’t want to produce children by the ream.
I only wanted travel and to see who I could be
if I wandered far enough to discover me.

I finally found a part of me everywhere I went,
but had to keep on traveling to know the full extent
of who I wished to grow into—that self I wished to find—
how much I could reveal of me and still have peace of mind.
But now I’ve seemed to settle. I’m content with what I’ve found.
The place where I have come to rest seems like holy ground.

Perhaps true wisdom really comes from knowing when to stop—
knowing when we’ve climbed enough because we’ve reached the top!

Michelle’s prompt today is Stop!  This is a rewrite of a poem from years ago. Thanks, Michelle, for helping me to rediscover it.

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

10 thoughts on “Stop and Go”

  2. SAM VOELKER's avatarSAM VOELKER

    Great one Judy, you may have wanted to write about stopping, but I see more. This would make a great EPIGRAPH to your book and would almost tell the story. I wish that I had met you along the way because I was out there looking around too.

    SAM

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Sam, this is the final poem in my book and is of a similar theme:
      Collecting Myself
      My juvenile aspirations were not like any others–– my idols not my parents or my sisters or my brothers. I wanted to be different, intrepid and exploring regions and activities less mainstream and less boring. I felt my whole identity tied up in what I did, but my friends had just a glimpse of me–for most of me just hid, waiting for a time when the world would want to see all that biggest part of me that was really me.
      When it finally happened, I came out bit by bit, each part coming into view as I discovered it through doing and by trying, by traveling and proving. It seems I only sloughed off walls as I kept on moving. Parts of me found here and there in every varied clime. I’m still finding parts of me up to the present time. Daughter, friend and lover, writer, artist, wife–– to discover all of them is what creates a life.

      Can’t put it in lines here, but I imagine it parallels your life somewhat…J

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  4. anntonyjandc's avataranntonyjandc

    Love the depth combined with the lightness of the rhyme and rhythm. You’ve found it, all right. So glad to know such a bright and curious seeker.

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