The Way to Change the World

We all know spending time with an agreeable and friendly tot or child

 is far more pleasant than to accommodate

 a disagreeable, hard-to-please youngster!

I had the pleasure of the company of

 a most pleasant and agreeable nature yesterday!

soodla! 

(Pennsylvania Dutch word for child splashing and playing in water in a sink)

A pastime as old as time, methinks 😂

The above concept about agreeability applies to people of all ages!

No matter how pleasant our surroundings are,

if we or one we are with is ill-tempered and unthankful

the joy of any experience is altered tremendously!! 

Whether sitting by crackling fire

Or walking through the mead

Or lounging beneath lofty spire

Of leaf-song overhead 

Or sipping cup of fresh-brewed joe

While on a Sunday drive

Or romping in fresh fallen snow

Happy to be alive

Tis not extravagance or style

That makes The Thing enough

Life's greatest beauty is a smile

Its purest pleasure, love

So then, no matter what we do

Whether simple or grand

Delight depends on me and you

Not fortune's sleight of hand 

No matter, dear, how fair or fine

The face or physique's frame

Or what success may underline

The mention of a name

Nothing can ever take the place

Whoever we may be

Of a heart full of love and grace

And kind humility

To make our lives a sure success 

And happier, by far

Depends, not on what we possess

 Or who or where we are

The way to change the world for good

Is this, dear girl and boy

To love each other like we should

Will fill the world with joy

Janet Martin~

Thumbs Up (face to face or screen to screen)

We, the more mature students in the School of Life have learned or are learning 

not to base self-worth on how many likes or thumbs-up we get, 

but it doesn't mean a little 'thumbs up' isn't kind of like a big cyber

 (or face-to-face) smile/hug/ pat on the back.

Sometimes when I'm tempted to think that someone really couldn't care less

whether I 'like' it or not I think about the big boost of courage

some of those little thumbs-up have given me over the years💗

Our love/hate relationship with social-media, like it or not,

for better or worse, carries a weight of response-ability with it.

So whether to the people we meet on the street, in our homes,

or on social media, let's spread some high-five, smiley-face, thumbs-up love!

1 Thess.5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing.

Thumbs up can give someone a lift when they are feeling low 

A boost of confidence perhaps, a little ‘way-to-go’ 

A ‘you are not invisible but worth a smile, a prayer 

A kind nod of approval to fend off fiends of despair’ 

Thumbs up can say ‘hey, you’re okay and worth the while God grants’ 

Thumbs up can put a bounce in steps that somehow lost their ‘dance’ 

So, whether face to face or screen to screen, let’s do our part 

To spill some ‘thumbs-up-happiness’ into somebody’s heart 

Thumbs up is so much better than an emoji to vent 

To satisfy our anger in that spurt of resentment 

Better to walk away than say something we will regret 

Better to give a thumbs up and leave scowls and slurs unsaid 

Time is a tireless teacher; age does not deter him much 

We never outgrow needing someone’s time or tender touch 

A teeny, weeny thumbs up might be all somebody needs 

To fan the flame of courage to wherever Today leads 

© Janet Martin

Everyone Needs to do their Part

 

Image Source

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Everyone (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles could include: “Everyone Thinks I’m Crazy,” “Everyone Knows the World Is Round,” “Everyone Needs to Leave Me Alone,” or whatever it is that everyone is doing (or not doing).

We should not leave for others to do
What can be done by me and you
What a lovely world this world would be
If we all did our part willingly

If we all gave a little more
Instead of stiffly keeping score
If love was our motive freely unfurled
Oh, this would be a wonderful world

Everyone needs to do their part
We are the painters; love is the art
If each of us would do our best
This world would laugh with loveliness

Janet Martin

Longevity of Love

Girls, men are not really

That different from us

We both desire deeply

Respect and love

If we gave to our better halves

The things we hold dear

Perhaps some of love’s struggle

Would disappear

Complicated simplicity

Just you and I

Yet, this thing called love

Can drive us wild

But we are not so different

If we learn to live

Knowing what we both want

We must learn to give

© Janet Martin