what happened to my youthful exuberance
I knew just what we needed to save the world
to change all those worldly wrongs
doubt never entered my head
I knew exactly what was needed
seems that flame was extinguished
as I butted head with reality
dVerse, 44 words ‘extinction’, Linda – inspired by Punam
Super kate! And I do agree with you! Reality is crazy at times! ❤
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Well, I guess we all had bruised heads, I share that experience.
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Yes..the young believe in such big things..figure they can meet any challenge…the life/reality hits and there you go. 😉
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When we are young, we sometimes feel like we are up for any challenge.
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As you explain, Kate, reality often shifts our focus from externals to internals.
In crossing that barrier, though, it loses much of its power. Cherish your inner sunshine, and it will dissipate the storm. The clouds part, and once again light radiates. You’re Example #1 of this wonder, Kate.
Age brings patience, and we understand then that we don’t change reality with one sweeping gesture, but a little at a time. Sometimes not so little.
Idealism is great, though idealism plus patience is what changes reality. It helps to have the humility, too, to understand that change may not come in our lifetimes, but it will get here, thanks to the efforts of people like yourself.
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thanks so much Keith, I love that saying “evil can only prevail if good people do nothing” .. we must all do the best we can
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Danged reality.
Great poem and it even ends bluntly like a solid head butt to the gut.
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Alas reality is what we all face, but maybe we need to change reality.
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We do each change the world one day at a time with the people we encounter. You change the world with your ‘inner peace’ because you do not add to the drama. You change the world Kate with your words that strive for reconciliation; you choose as you say, to accept people for who they are…and not fight with them. So it seems, your youthful spirit is still with you. You want to make a difference. Now, you are older, wiser. You seek inner peace so you have more to share with others. You seek to share the lessons you have learned…this is a good thing! 🙂 You might save someone else, young or old, a great deal of heartache if they heed some of those lessons.
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🙂 🙂 🙂 I love your poetry and I am listening!
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Reality does that to one…
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Very well done, Kate. Reality really is a brick wall sometimes. Love your poem!
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Relight your flame. Don’t let reality extinguish it. We need the fighter in you!
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lol as a lover of peace I prefer not to fight 🙂
Just transferred that exuberance into inner peace 🙂
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Sometimes, I honestly wish to just chop off those fangs from reality.
No more biting then, right?
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First of all thanks, dear Kate, for crediting me for inspiration! Reality is not as bitter as we make it out to be but it is true as we age our focus changes…from changing the world, we move to changing ourselves!
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Really check! But the flames may be rekindled.
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Reality can really hit us and put all our idealistic plans astray. I marvel though at the passion of young activists for climate change. I know that our world will be better with their voices.
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Sadly Kate, it’s not reality that turns a heart away from possibility — it is the unwillingness to continue pursuing it. It is the laziness of aging that kills wonder, not the inevitable result of aging.
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you think Rob, I changed focus to work on the internal …
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So true! We can all relate to this! 🙂
I guess the world is the world and people are people, but we should still do all we can to be our best self/work on our innards 🙂 , set good examples, and live a life with open hands, arms, minds, hearts! 🙂
And YAY for youthful exuberance, determination, and hope! 🙂
That photo is so sweet! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
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It is good to butt heads with reality. Hopefully a brighter flame will rise.
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I think we all battle for the world, just in our own lives. We deal the cards we’re given. It’s hard to fix everything in everyone’s different world, the giant world of 7 billion people, and I think it’s impossible to take in through a set of eyes. We all have to work towards a better tomorrow. That’s all we can do. We’re all creators and destroyers.
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Youth seems to be a great time for conquering the world and somehow experience and time seem to chip away our bravery and so it seems that resilience is our ticket in hand for dancing with our fears and doubts.❤️
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fears and doubt need to be confronted Jenna for they are paper tigers … non-existent when we examine them closer!
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the enormity of the wrongs/needs can get overwhelming sometimes. i sense desperation or maybe resignation here
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superb stated Kate…as that reality sledgehammer keeps whacking me in the head,… although I like to think I’m still young at heart …. xx
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lol we are all young at heart Ivor just our body lets us down!
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And reality rears its ugly head. So much truth here!
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with school kids marching it reminded me of our fight for the Franklin River … we think we can do it then gradually that exuberance is worn away … we did save the river!
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