all gain and pain is transient
nothing is permanent
spring follows winter
death follows life
I have little control
over most of it
except my attitude
to ups and downs
a choice to smile or frown
a choice to whine or praise
a choice to wallow or proceed
these choices have a ripple effect
on all those who surround me
my mental attitude impacts
let my joy for life not tax
for it is contagious when I wax
about how
each struggle taught me
each hardship was my lesson
each joy healthier shared
for whatever bothers me today
will be gone tomorrow
can’t wallow in sorrow
life is here to live now
so when doubt or fear arises
know it won’t linger long
look for the positives be strong
for we aren’t really here for long
d’Verse, impermanence, Merril – and another post on impermanence
aroused 
Well said. Yes..about the only thing we can control is our actions/reactions. Nothing is permanent and we’re not here for long. Love this poem.
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The second stanza if pure gold!!
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yes once we understand that life gets easier 🙂
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Well said, Kate! It always helps me to remember that very few things are permanent.
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would love to know what those “few things” are that are permanent Ann? I can’t think of any …
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Understanding the brevity of life is key to live a good life.
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Good point about not being here for long.
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Wonderful!
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Words of wisdom Kate and you have said it so beautifully. Everything comes and goes nothing is permanent so why not see the positiveness in each and every aspect of our life and have a great life of peace and happiness.
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Love this poem, SweetKate! 🙂
Like those beautiful bright-faced flowers…we live, we bloom, we grow, and one day we will be gone. Life is too short not to find the joys in each and every day! 🙂
Keep sharin’ the love! YOU are a bright-spot and a joy-bringer with your words and your kindness!
HUGS!!! 🙂
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Beautiful poem. Enjoyable.🤗
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love the leaking of positivity and honesty in your poem! this is much needed. ❤
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thanks so much, appreciate your comment 🙂
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Not much joy when you wax I hear Kate 😀 😀
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lol oh my you don’t miss a trick Brian 😉
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Love your flowers too Kate. And yes we only have control over ourselves. Well most of the time. Sometimes the tongue is quicker than the mind!
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A wonderfully positive outlook and one that brings happiness.
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So beautiful Kate!!!
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thanks so much … you haven’t posted for ages, you ok?
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Yah, I’m fine but very busy between Switzerland and Portugal, thanks for your concern Kate!!!
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Wow! Lovely poem 🙂
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Oh–and wonderful title, too! 🙂
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lol if we all remember that we’d be a lot happier …
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What a lovely message! So much we can’t control.
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Funny thing, I just received an email about “Go Transit” in Toronto and right below it was your new post. Came here first and so glad I did. I really like :
so when doubt or fear arises
know it won’t linger long
look for the positives be strong
for we aren’t really here for long
Lovely poem!
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I’m for looking for the good things. The media bring us only doom and despair!
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exactly the reason I only read the online news headlines … otherwise I might need anti-depressants 🙂
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I like the waviness of your form, like a vibration of positivity ❤
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I love me a poem of Hope, peace and acceptance. You struck some dramatic chords, but your rhyme scheme kept it rolling right along.
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Well Kate you have written another true poem about life and this world. You are right we have to decide how to handle this place we live on while it rotates around the sun each year until we pass away.
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we are flooded with choices, so the simple positive ones make life worthwhile James 🙂
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