Poem: Creating the Future

The world is a canvas, wide open and new,
And the paintbrush, dear friends, is inside of you.
Each thought that you think, each feeling you send,
Loops back around, for there is no true end.

We’re woven together, like threads in a seam,
The future’s not “out there,” it lives in your dream.
So clean out your closet, your attic, your mind,
Release what is heavy, old, worn, or unkind.

For clinging to past things will slow down your stride,
So bless them, then wave them a fond, kind goodbye.
Encourage your country, your neighbors, your kin,
To freshen the house and let bright air blow in.

All nations are dancers in delicate spin,
Sometimes they stumble, sometimes they win.
America, Japan—two partners at play,
Can tumble the markets and tilt the ballet.

Yet history is shaped by what people choose,
Not only by debts or the headlines of news.
So choose with intention, and cast in the pot,
Select what is useful, not only what’s hot.

In food and in fabrics, in silver and gold,
In ventures collective, the story is told.
The Earth gives her bounty, she offers her hand,
So partner with others and care for the land.

Your banks may look mighty, with windows so tall,
But for keeping your future, they’re not safe at all.
Instead, place your treasures where they can renew,
And serve friends and others and blossom for you.

The future’s not fearful, it isn’t a test,
It’s a journey, a banquet, a grand cosmic quest.
So wake with a blessing, and greet the new day,
Knowing you’ll clear what gets stuck in the way.

For the moment is calling, and now is the time,
To sing your own song using rhythm and rhyme.
You’re part of the whole, you’re part of the plan,
Creating the future? Of course, yes . . . yes, you can!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

In what ways are you creating your future? Do you feel like you’re waiting for the future to come or for someone else to bring it to your door?