I wanted
someone
that wouldn't
be afraid

of me.

I spent
twenty-one
years
doubting
that person
could ever
exist.

For humans
are far too shallow
and our
complications
are

way too deep

but I honestly believe
we should not have to
be alone.

I believe in independence.
I believe in self-reliance
and I believe in self-respect.

But I also believe that
humans can connect
on a far deeper level
than just what we see.

I believe there is a time
and place
for everything
and that includes
the moments

we fall in love.

You see,
there will be days
that you fill
empty
and lonely
but you have
to be there for yourself.

No one is going to give you
a handout
unless you show them
you are going to
make it count.

No one is going to
rely on someone
that cannot
rely on them self.

Co dependence can be
beautiful
but nevertheless-
it is filled with
even more grief.

You cannot fix somebody else
when you are still
practicing
the craft
of self-love.

Allow your lows
to be reminders
that you
can lose
and smile
knowing
that you can
bounce back,
too.

There is nothing
graceful
in struggling
but there is
something
glorious
in the

overcoming

and believe me-
you will find a way
to live through it all.

And then
some day
somebody,
somewhere
is going to
admire
the way
you refuse
to fall.

And you will wonder
how you ever
let the world
make you feel

so small.

-Andrew Durst.

Lack of rest,
I’m not impressed,
I’m stressed, depressed.
After a blood test,
With a friend, I lost a bet,
Oh me? I’m depressed.

Ditched for no reason,
This is pure treason,
I’m sitting in the laps of depression.
It’s time I learn a lesson,
That luck doesn't always favor me,
I need to move forward, make a progression.

We all have ups and downs,
In the short span our hearts beats.
Life is not full of perfection,
We all go through psychotic depression.

It’s high time we chill,
And fill our life with thrills.

It’s time we reverse ‘stressed’
Because spelled backwards,
It’s something we all love- desserts.

Who fired the first bullet?
Who drew the first knife?
Who took the first life?
Who verbally assaulted the first person
Who's fear did worsen
into fight rather than flight
in the dark night
Of the human soul
How do we address the bloodshed and killing
What if we were willing
To let go of the bloodshed show
We know what is like to know
What is like to live in tribes
But if worked together love, unity and hope would arrive.

Morn after morn, He awoke alone
And prayed for her return
Until the truth made itself known
That to have her heart, He'd have to learn

To gather up all of his strength
And fly away from here
To let love carry him any length
And not be driven by fear

If I stayed the same and did not move,
By the world I'd be left behind
I'd be static in my opinions and views
And be cast from others' minds

So I must evolve in my character
And the things I do and don't believe
Not so much to please another,
But in order to shape my higher self, and make that higher self, me

With this He made a promise, for today, and not tomorrow
To not be frightened by how the wind blew
To not be kept back by regret and sorrow

And so to his dreams, He **flew

Do you ever
Count all the steps
That you walk in a day?

Wonder if they add up
To the height of mountains
Or the depths
Of the deepest seas?

Yet you hold yourself
Back from a challenge
When it stands
All in front of you.
And say it's just a dream.

Nowhere you walk
Is easy.
All people talk
And glare
And have their opinions.
No where is safe
With an edge
So near
That one fault
And you drop.

Scaling peaks,
Diving where it's deep,
Or just living is not easy.
But then again
You walk with a friend
And there goes the challenge.

They are the masters,     the thousand failed ways,
knowing what is best,     knowing what is not.