Hi, I’m Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. These are poems I was inspired to write from my blog articles at Simply Create 2 Share, that encourage creative people to share their creativity with the world, however small or large that may be:
The Unchangeability of Change – Simply Story Poetry
Intro: I spent most of my adult life helping others until I realized that I was spending too much of my time helping others. How can that be? Isn’t helping others a good thing to do? Yes, it is, but not at the expense of being irresponsible and negligent of your own talents and goals in life. So, what was the real reason I was neglecting my own talent and goals? I had to face the fact that I was hiding behind my ‘helping’ to avoid facing my greatest fear – the fear of rejection and criticism of my poetry. I had to be brave like David and face my Goliath.
Surprisingly, my daughters were relieved and proud of the new direction I was committed to. I was no longer hiding behind housework and doing things for others in their homes that they were quite capable of doing themselves and preferred me out of the way. “Get a Life Beverley” was the message the winds of life were blowing my way. So I did. I got in and focused on writing and sharing my poetry. I still help my family and friends a lot, but now I balance my time in a healthy way. Beverley Joy
Saying I’m Too Busy Is A Cover Up
No matter what age or life path you pursue
It’s never too late to start something new.
Excuses, excuses, don’t give me excuses
I’m too old, too young, too stuck in my ways
It’s too late, it’s too soon to try something new.
Stop aimlessly bobbing in the ocean of life
Tossed this way and that out of your control
Start swimming with purpose in your stroke
Like a swimmer cuts through the rough surf.
Unblock your fear of what people might think
Like turning on a hose that was once blocked
Once the blockage is gone, the water flows
And you will nourish and refresh wherever you go.
Curiosity can influence every part of your life
In your work, hobbies and relationships
So, live in wonder and awe, eager to know more
A curious attitude will open closed doors.
We can spend too much time living for others
Supporting and working for their dreams and goals
I was doing this to avoid sharing my poems
For fear of rejection and disapproval.
I struggled with jealousy and frustration
Watching other’s achieve their dreams and goals
But, while I was helping, I could remain selfish
And not take responsibility for my gift.
It’s not fair to others when we are thinking
Negative thoughts about them and their talent
We’re not being true to ourselves or our family and friends
Letting fear of our goals sap our creative energy.
It’s healthy to set boundaries, for their sake and yours
And live a balanced life that includes your own goals
Bring your goals to the front and centre of life
DO IT NOW. START TODAY. Your family will say thanks.
Beverley Joy © 2022 Simply Story Poetry
You may also enjoy my article that inspired this poem Get Out of The Way of Your Creative Flow at Simple Create 2 Share
A Scribble In Time – Simply Story Poetry
Intro: It’s February already. Diaries and calendars are on sale at massively reduced prices because February is the month that the new year has burst out of the starting blocks and is gaining ground. In Australia, the kids are back in school after the long summer break, community events and groups swing back into their regular time slots.
February is the testing month for any New Year’s Resolutions that were made last month. A percentage of people will have already broken their well-meaning intentions, a few don’t even bother setting any goals for the year, some will be slow out of the starting blocks and need another month or two before they get started. Others will have set their goals for the year and are competing in the race against time. I shared in my blog article Plan To Scribble Time, how I scribbled out my writing plan for 2022. I wrote this poem reflecting on how we humans run the race against time. Beverley Joy
A Scribble In Time
Tick-tock, tick-tock, time waits for no man
The relentless rhythm of the hands
As they walk their way around the clock
Day in, day out, never tiring of their work.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, humans, can only hope to find
A way to organise their mind
To sync what they do at work and leisure,
To fit-in-with-times hourly chimes.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, I scribble my goals on a piece of paper
I sit curled up on my comfy lounge
A calendar and diary with art on the cover
With a pen and white-out stick ready in hand.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, determined to achieve my goals this year
I think as I scribble my plan onto paper
I’ll do this today, I’ll do that tomorrow
I’ll go here in September, I’ll go there in December.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, When I’m finished, I lean back and sit tall in my chair
With a smirk on my face, I say “I’ve won the race
With the hands of time, I’ve silenced its chimes
My plan is sealed in whiteout and ink.”
Tick-tock, tick-tock, at Christmas time I know I will find
My diary, full of whiteout and scribbles in time
Confessions of frustration and of cause celebration
In my race to chase time to the finish line.
© 2022 Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry
For a different concept of time, read or listen to my poem A Rose Of Time
You may also enjoy reading the article that inspired this poem A Plan To Scribble Time at Simple Create 2 Share
Stop Wasting Time, Get On With It – Simply Story Poetry
Intro: I wrote this poem when my daughters had grown up and moved out of our family home and were living independently. I had always been there for them. I was a proud, doting mum. I had continued to push my goals to the side. I don’t regret a minute of my motherhood years. But the time had come when I had no more excuses. Even my girls were telling me to do more with my life than be a servant to everyone. It felt strange to throw out my old ‘motherhood’ lifestyle, that I was so comfortable and safe in, to replace it with a new unknown lifestyle as a single mature aged woman.
I was getting older, my youth was slipping away. I needed to smarten up and start working on achieving the goals that had sat dormant in my heart, but that now were stamping their feet to be let out. I didn’t know where to start or what to do first. I had never made plans that revolved around just me. I felt guilty and selfish. But I did realize that to achieve my writing goals, I needed to stop procrastinating by being ‘busy’ doing non-goal related tasks around the house, which I could always find plenty of them to do, and learn to focus my attention and time on goal-related tasks. That was easier said than done!
Then, one day, in 2014, I sat down at my tablet and spent three days straight typing my memoirs. It would be another six years before I gave my rough notes to an author to write them into a novel, which will be released later this year, 2022. It was during that six-year period that I wrote many poems, which I published on this website and my podcast last year and will self-publish into books this year. This poem is the last of three poems I have shared over the past few weeks. I wrote these poems when I first started thinking about sharing my poetry with the world. Beverley Joy
Stop Wasting Time And Get On With It
My confidence is shattered
I can’t trust myself
To make wise decisions
That will move me on in life.
I want to move forward
Solider on, as usual
But, I hesitate to change my ways
I wish my life could stay the same.
My desires don’t shine in neon lights
My voice doesn’t echo with thunderous might
I’m invisible, like a waiter, I’m here to serve
To assist when required and then, step aside.
Now, I can no longer say I don’t have the time
To pursue the gift that God chose as mine
But, fear weighs down the soles of my shoes
Self-doubt resists my need to move.
My mind is shouting,
“Stop and listen to yourself
Can’t you see the opportunity?
You’re at a crossroad in your life
You can’t stand still, you must decide.”
“It’s time to walk a creative path
Explore your talents; record your memoirs
Gather the skills your journey will need
Travel with your friend – curiosity.”
“Now get on with it
Stop wasting time
Before it’s too late
And you’re dead with regret.”
Ok, I’ll pack my bag
There’s no turning back
I’ll change my life path
I’ll follow my heart.
I’ll let go of others
To look after themselves
Trust them to be guided
By someone other than myself.
I’ll let others give to me
A helping hand in my time of need
I’ll feel their love and kindness
Which I will gratefully accept.
This new dimension to my life
Is unusual and uncomfortable
A creative step, so necessary
To allow me to explore my creativity.
Beverley Joy © 2014 Simply Story Poetry
You might also like to read or listen to My Poetry Story
Intro: This poem was inspired after I read for the second time, the book titled Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, by Susan Jeffers. I had read this inspiring book years earlier. But as the years rolled on and new life experiences tumbled in on me, I needed to take a fresh look at a brick wall of fear which was blocking my path forward in life. Although I had overcome smaller fears, there was this root fear whose strength resisted my attempts to remove it from the garden of my heart – the incredible power of the fear of rejection. I made the decision to stop running away from fear and somehow learn to make it my friend. Beverley Joy.
Hello Fear – Simply Story Poetry
Hello fear; I don’t normally want to talk to you
But, I have decided that I don’t want to keep pushing you away
Yet be warned, I won’t let you overwhelm me anymore
So come, spend some time, let’s walk and talk.
I know you like to come and go in and out of my life
I thought it was wrong to keep your company
But now I understand that when you are with me
You help me see the power of my mind.
How you stop me in my tracks as if I am frozen in time
And I can’t speak and my thoughts spin upside down
What an alienating, uncomfortable experience you bring
But, I wonder “Is it just my mind playing tricks on me?”
If my mind can create a powerful force like you
What else can my mind create for me?
I’m now curious to develop
This powerful force, within my mind.
I have always wanted you out of my mind
But now Fear, I see that there’s something I like
About having you pop in and out of my life.
Now that I’ve stopped screaming “Go away”
I can hear your voice, I hear you say
’Look at me, I am so powerful
And this power came from within you.’
Thank you, fear, for showing me
The depth of my inner strength
Thank you for igniting my curiosity
To explore this strength more creatively.
Oh, is it time for you to go away
Well, next time you come to visit me
I’ll introduce you to my new friend
She’s bold and brave, her name is courage.
Beverley Joy © 2010 of Simply Story Poetry
Reference: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action. Susan Jeffers.1998 by Ballantine Books
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