Tag: inspiration
Life is being too good,
Perfect End – 1st July 2025
A wasted day waiting for perfection.
Staring at the mountains
green and dusty around the edges;
The sun’s rising
obscured by damp and grey defences;
Little illumination
penetrates to bring forth joys;
Has the day already been decided?
Staring at the snow white sheet
waiting for the words;
Imagination lost in the ebb
just beyond the groping enquiries;
Little inspiration
steps out of the dark entrances
looking for a flawless scaffold.
Staring at the flowers
fighting through the weeds,
Stunted by the fading foundations,
nests of decay;
Little seedlings
sent to their surrender
waiting for early birds to start their work.
Staring at the western peaks
green and dusty still,
The sun setting
in a glory elsewhere;
Little perfection
broke through to bring forth joys;
The day went as decided.
We Don’t Need Another Poem – 20th January 2025
We don’t need another poem
Out of the holidays, out of the seasons
Don’t make the same mistake again
Rolling seas and moonlight are not reasons
To write another one the same
And I wonder when are we ever gonna change
A prompt repeated ’til nothing else remains
We don’t need another poem
We don’t need the same old metaphors
All we want is life beyond
Another simile that simply bores
I know it’s something we can rely on
But there’s got to be better out there
Love and nature, their day is done
Just another castle built in the air
And I wonder when we are ever gonna change
A prompt repeated ’til nothing else remains
We don’t need another poem
We don’t need the same old similes
All we want is life beyond
Another metaphor to simply please
So what do we do with our lives?
We leave only a mark
Will our poem shine like a light
Or end in the dark?
Give it all or nothing
We don’t need another poem
About autumn, Christmas or Halloween
All we want is life beyond
Another set of rhymes already seen
To the tune of We Don’t Need Another Hero. After following a number of poetry prompt blogs for more than 12 months now I found it a little amusing that the same seasonal themes return again.
It’s more an observation than a criticism as I rarely bother to write about seasons specifically, or holidays (especially if they are not relevant to my location). Folks can write about whatever makes them happy. It’s easy to not read something! But I do like to be challenged by the writer to perhaps come at the prompt from a new angle for a change.
26th Sep 2025 – Shared with Poets and Storytellers United – fall
Shadow’s Whisper – 25th April 2024
Take my hand, I’ll walk you home
Stay with me forever
The sun don’t shine when all alone
Let’s do this together
I’ll still be there in your dark days
Whispering inspiration
Don’t listen to what the devil says
Despite his adulation
Along the way, through thick and thin
Even with bridges burning
Because even if we don’t win
At least we are still learning
Submitted to WDYS #235
Today I’m feeling:
Lazy to get up despite kinda waking up at around 7 am when I could’ve got myself going but instead dozed until around 10 am. My body is aching in a good way.
Today I’m grateful for:
An afternoon storm today! Hooray! It was a bit of a surprise.
Unfortunately, it also highlighted that the builders that came to fix our gutters in the garage have actually made it worse than before. Sigh.
It seems impossible to get anyone to do a ‘proper’ job of anything here sometimes.
The best thing about today was:
Amy being out in the evening with Paew leaving me happily at home with the cats, Youtube and comics for company.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
After getting up late and knowing Amy was going out I decided I would only have a light lunch and then get my favourite fish dish in the walking market in the evening. I also figured I might buy another hash brownie to relax even further.
Anticipating this had my mouth watering but sadly the fish stall wasn’t in the market today and the shop that usually sells the brownies was closed!
Never mind. There’s lots of time to enjoy everything.
Did you do something difficult or challenging today?
I spent the last ten minutes before getting up this morning contemplating whether to skip exercise this morning as even laying in bed my thighs were still aching from working out two days ago.
But I forced myself and even though the app keeps giving me push-ups to do I just figured to replace some of them with arm curls instead. I did some knee push-ups though. Maybe one day I’ll be comfortable doing push-ups.
Maybe. One day.
This Poet Saves Lives – 23rd February 2024
This poem saves lives
Drawing down the heavens
When without inspiration
All at sixes and sevens
This painting saves lives
Painted with blood and muck
When without inspiration
And the world seems to suck
This song saves lives
Proffered just as it was
Inspired by the chorus
And sung loud just because
These words save lives
In these perilous times
And inspiration found
Reading between the lines
Inspired (unironically) by The Red Hand Files #274 – check it out for some wise words from old man Nick Cave.
Submitted to Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge INSPIRATION
13th Sep 2024 – Shared with Poets and Storytellers United – speak up or stay silent
3rd Nov 2024 – Shared with Ragtag Daily Prompt – chorus
Today I’m feeling:
Under the weather again. Last night I could feel a slight tickle and ache in my throat as I was about to sleep.
I slept well though not enough and my alarm woke me up with a start to which I succumbed to another 30 minutes of snoozing, skipping exercise. When I got up I could feel the oncoming sore throat, confirmed by blood in my nose.
My mood was down a little too but it’s Friday so let’s go and get it done.
Today I’m grateful for:
Discovering that there is a holiday on Monday. Yippee!
The best thing about today was:
A chilled vibe at school (see below) and spending about five hours at House, reading, lesson planning, blogging and writing. What a job!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
At the morning flag ceremony, I noticed that my grade 7 classes were less than half in attendance and discovered that they were attending some meeting about a field trip. OK….
When it came to class time there were only about ten students and they told me the rest were still in the meeting.
I went to find Kru Karn, their homeroom teacher who didn’t know anything about where they were. I mentioned a field trip and she said ‘oh yes, there’s about 6 students going.’ I asked when it was and she thought that it was in the holiday. ‘Hmm’, I said, ‘that’s weird because there are more than 6 students missing from the class?’
She came to my class and talked with one of the students and was surprised to find out herself that many of the student’s parents skipped the process of advising her about their children going on the trip and, more importantly, the trip starts on Monday and is for one week!
The communication here is so crazy – no one knows what’s going on.
I said ‘Well, I guess that’s it for teaching these kids this semester.’ Kru Karn agreed and advised to start doing their grading files. And it leaves me with another day with no classes again already.
Something I learned today?
As I was wandering around Baipad’s class this morning, because my class was cancelled and Kru Ren wasn’t there, I learned that a couple of students are taking money from the lazy ones to complete their coursework for them.
It’s enterprising of the hard-working kids to make some spare cash but disappointing from a teacher’s perspective.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I offered Baipad to help her on Monday with all her catchup work. Let’s see if she gets it together to actually wake up and do it.
I helped various students in their different classes today as my own classes being mostly free time for everyone.
Kru Fluke dropped in to visit. I gave her a big smile and a hug, happy to see her again.
25 THINGS ABOUT LIFE I WISH I HAD KNOWN 10 YEARS AGO – 20. Enjoy Small Things. I like clichés because they are true.
Over the last three or four years of self-improvement I’ve followed the Noticing Things blog (I forget the proper name), thought about gratitude every day (with a couple of exceptions) and been writing, journalling, blogging etc. All of these combined have led me to enjoy the small things.
Partly due to this, I’m not often in the vicinity of big things and things that I once thought of as big seem comparatively small these days too (the circumstance of ageing).
One thing that I was doing more of last year or the year before was savouring moments. I don’t often stop to remind myself to savour something now. I should practice that again.
A Tropical Wish – 8th February 2024
There is no spring here
Where I’m sitting warm
Tropical thunder
Crashes all year round
No icy mornings
I’ve never felt snow
One day I wish to
Wear a winter glove
To feel warm red cheeks
To see words in breath
A thick winter coat
Wet with cold, cold snow
Like two cats in love
We’ll keep ourselves warm
The bud breaks the bark
I’ll watch in wonder
Shared with Tanka Tuesday – Kigo words ‘cats in love’
10th Nov 2024 – Shared with Ragtag Daily Prompt – glove
Today I’m feeling:
A little tired again I think because whatever is giving me a sore throat is just taking a little out of me. I don’t feel too bad but on the edge and it could go either way.
I slept relatively early again and got up later, skipping exercise again. There’s nothing to do at school today as all the kids go off camping and thankfully the high school foreign teachers don’t have to go like the primary teachers do.
Coffee, writing and reading time and then back home. Hopefully, I can avoid an afternoon nap today though it is tempting me right now.
Today I’m grateful for:
Keeping track of various things over time, with the likes of diaries, emails and archives of things that I’ve kept.
As I was on the verge of dozing off this afternoon I wondered if it was possible to get access to my old email account, pre-2008? The idea forced me up and though I soon discovered it was impossible I started rummaging around my old Facebook archive and then even older emails and just reading through a little of those triggered more memories.
I could even see that I was explaining things in 1998 about something that happened ten years earlier that I have since forgotten!
The best thing about today was:
What I mention above. It has me excited to dive further into the detritus of my life!
Something I learned today?
A burning ban is due to start on the 15th. So everyone is getting their burning in now. It also remains to be seen if anything is actually implemented.
There was also a newspaper article today which describes the government asking people not to burn so much paper money and incense during Chinese New Year!
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I think I have only spoken with two people today. Amy and Gui. Not much opportunity for either good or bad.
I did nod good morning to one of the other teachers when I signed in this morning.
I gave Tokyo her daily snack for which she is always happy.
I also replied to an old acquaintance from Sydney who contacted me to say hello and ask for music recommendations.
25 THINGS ABOUT LIFE I WISH I HAD KNOWN 10 YEARS AGO – 14. Learn Every Day. You’ve got to train your brain to stay alert. You don’t have to read a book a day to learn every day. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from the people around you—be open to what they can teach you.
I force a lot of stuff into my brain every day and as I find answering ‘what is something I learned today’ is often difficult it seems like much doesn’t stick.
It’s going in, adding to my overall persona (input and output) but I often find myself in a conversation where I say ‘Oh, yeah I heard about that’ but don’t have the details; or think to myself ‘I wish I could recall the things I read to keep this discussion going.’
At least, I’m aware and know that I still know little about anything at all. That’s why I ask myself every day, ‘What did I learn?’
When was the last time I felt inspired?
I reckon it was last year when I first heard SpeechOdd. I really enjoyed their music and wanted to work with them. By the end of the year the opportunity arrived.
In general, I am inspired every day. I try to write poetry every day and I’m always on the lookout for things that may drive that inspiration and have found a couple of regular resources to keep me inspired.
The Rush – 4th February 2024
The race never existed in his world
To hurry something somehow seemed wrong
Never a challenge externalised
Until the hare came haring along
…and what were you like before…
Today I’m feeling:
Sore. My back and knees are complaining after stressing them yesterday whilst cleaning out the sink drain.
Today I’m grateful for:
The parking guys with their whistles at Makro. I don’t know why they are necessary or why they blow their whistles so much as it’s impossible to understand if it means anything. I almost ran the guy over because I had a clear reverse behind me and he was the only thing in the way!
The best thing about today was:
Spending a few hours in my room, catching up on reading, sorting music, downloading and listening and then practising guitar. I want to spend more time doing this but I still don’t really enjoy being in that room anymore.
Something I learned today?
The average age of a Ukrainian soldier right now is 43!
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I followed up with Earn, asking her the same question as I did about six weeks ago – Tell me five things you like about yourself. Her answers are better than last time. Less focused on looks and more focused on feelings and emotions.
What is a happy memory from my childhood?
I’ve lots of snippets of memories that are not particularly happy or sad, just things that happened. Some may have felt ecstatic at the time such as playing football at school or tragic like the time I cracked my eyebrow open on the edge of a step but at this distance, they are just events. I consider my childhood to be memories until I was about halfway through middle school, pre-pubescent. After that, I consider myself a teenager until I was forty!
25 THINGS ABOUT LIFE I WISH I HAD KNOWN 10 YEARS AGO – 11. Lead the Way. When you find yourself in a situation where everyone looks at each other, it’s time for you to lead. You’re a leader when you decide to become one. There’s no initiation or a title. Just a decision.
Before going through teenage depression I thought that I could be a leader. After that though, I mostly wanted to keep my head down though I still had a selfish streak of arrogance which popped up from time to time.
Whilst doing DIY punk things in Sydney I never felt like a leader but did hope that I was an inspiration for others and I can think of two friends for sure who did take something from what I was doing and ran with it themselves.
Now, at school, in Thailand, I consider myself the same. Not as a leader but as an inspiration. I want to inspire my students to become the best of themselves. I don’t work for prizes and awards and I don’t want to be managing other adults. I don’t want to lead people in such a way as to tell them what to do. Rather than leading I just want to be doing something. Anything. Just do it.
Gone Clear – 17th September 2023
Remember when then was now?
You couldn’t wait to get to here
And now you’re here, your desire is for then again
As the past became more clear
Today I’m feeling:
Less achy than yesterday but also slightly more tired. I did do 100 jumping jacks to try and undo an aching lower back. It kinda worked but need to stretch it some more. Yesterday I didn’t read the book I planned, opting for comics instead. I also didn’t play guitar. Lazy. Today I had planned to go and visit Matt but don’t think I’ll make it. Lazy. My motivational drive is all over the place.
By the time the long lazy day had passed (still too quickly), I got a sudden burst of lesson planning on and now my mind is whirling with ideas for classes when I should be winding down and preparing to sleep.
Today I’m grateful for:
The bananas that Amy’s mum gave me last week. I’ll finish off the last two tomorrow.
The best thing about today was:
Just going at my own pace and waiting for drives to come. It still didn’t come for playing guitar today unfortunately and I think it is because my lower back is sore and sitting and playing guitar compounds it. I’ve also felt a little disillusioned with listening to music but that’s mainly because I want to read and find that difficult when there is music on. Lesson planning I can do at the same time though and when the music started I loved it and wondered why I was holding off. I need to listen to more music more intentionally again.
Something I learned today?
I was looking for something that I watched today to jog my memory about something I learned today. I went back to a classroom management video and from there ended up in the YouTube rabbit hole. I learned about one strategy that may be worth a try with my grade 7 students next semester, though would have been better at the beginning of the year. I had a plan before the start of the year but then forgot all about implementing it!
Quote: Learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference – Marcus Aurelius.
This quote can also tie in with the legacy question today. No matter what you might wish for with what you try to influence, it is out of your control. Trying to keep others in your control is to punish them with your ego.
I am constantly learning about the things in my control and becoming indifferent to what is outside. It is a practice that will never be perfected but must be continued.
This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to make a difference in the world ourselves but it is up to other people whether they get anything out of it.
What is my legacy?
I think I’m not that egotistical to expect to have any real legacy. I know that I have had some influence over various people’s lives and hopefully inspired others from time to time. Sometimes that was my purpose but mostly I was doing things just for my own pleasure.
After a generation or two, I don’t expect anyone to repeat my name but I’m still satisfied with everything I do and have done.
The Cup Spiders – 5th September 2023
A cracked cup
Chipped and faded
Sits dusty behind antique glass
A spectator to many stories
Left untold
Holding congratulations aloft
Cheers to that day
Or sombre with lukewarm water
The passing of time
The spiders came
With their own tales
Making a new home
Hiding in wait
But nothing comes
All the times have died
The heat, the air
The insects and the weeds
A cup returns to earth
Still cracked, still broken
Yet still a cup
Today I’m feeling:
Strong and healthy. But also getting a little positive anxiety to start planning for next semester. It’s positive because I will use that as motivation. At the start of my exercise routine this morning I felt like I would want to fall back into bed by the end of it but I was suitably energised to get myself going. I can feel some of the exercises getting a little easier but push-ups kill me.
Today I’m grateful for:
The DuoCards app that is helping me improve my Thai learning quicker than other apps I use. I’m considering buying the subscription so that I can practice for longer. I currently use 4 free apps which are all time limited. DuoCards is a spaced repetition flashcard system similar to Anki.
The best thing about today was:
Getting a nice message from Earn after I sent her some positive reinforcement in an effort to help her combat her shyness when talking to a boy she likes. She wrote ‘i luv u t.shaun’ which comes as a big surprise as she was very rebellious and grumpy with me for a lot of the time last year.
Also today, Fah tried to sneak away from my class this afternoon and I just happened to see her and call her back and she was a little upset and impatient at the time. I messaged her later and she is smart enough to understand that she shouldn’t have done that.
When some of my students call me ‘father’ in a loving way I sometimes think that perhaps now I am suitable and knowledgeable enough to actually be a father. But that time has come and gone. It also helps that I don’t need to see ‘my children’ for more than a couple of hours at a time!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
For the second time, someone stole my cooling powder from the small teacher’s room where I keep my things at work. I have to remember to see if I can find keys for the lockers in one of the classrooms tomorrow.
Something I learned today?
In a speech directed at the USA Xi Jinping commented on their behaviour with a Chinese idiom along the lines of ‘blowing out everyone else’s light won’t give more light to you’. I liked that as it seems appropriate.
What is one good thing I can do for myself?
Keep going.
I took this screenshot because I thought I could use it from time to time to send to students when they are feeling a little down. I’ve been collecting other similar inspirational quotes for them since too. No new pictures today.
Communion – 26th May 2023
A spark flies on wandering wings
Darting forth on invisible strings
Before coming to rest on the orange soil
Growing here a cluster of limes
By the river flowing since ancient times
And the field the poorest farmers toil
The leaves all fall and flow downstream
Watched by those that wish to dream
Of lands and opportunities far away
What is here and there is just the same
The seas and cities all wax and wane
Only the princes are happy to stay
Keeping butterflies within their cages
Whispered words on parchment pages
Tell legends of a joyful union
Setting fires ablaze, the whole world sings
Another spark flies on wandering wings
Ignites the story of our own communion
Today I’m feeling:
Good and happy. This morning I opted for a 7-minute chest workout because yesterday whilst students were talking to me one of them whispered ‘Teacher nom yai’ and I looked at her and grabbed my chest and gave a stern face and then a sad face, all the while we were all laughing. As my lower back was a bit sore this morning I decided to try and work off some boob fat!
Today I’m grateful for:
Goy and Bae for letting us share their Netflix until now. News is that they won’t be able to share anymore as Netflix is changing the options to only be able to share on the same wifi network. That’s ok for me. I enjoy watching things on there but I already have a whole host of other things I can spend time watching.
The best thing about today was:
Whilst sitting in House, watching a lecture on modern poetry and trying to find inspiration to write something myself, an attractive young couple came in and ordered coffees, and inspiration was found in the young ladies’ soft smooth tan skin, pretty feet and bare waist. So I wrote about temptation, how it can only lead to trouble and that it’s better just to enjoy the view.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I had a plan to go to see Matt between my classes today and messaged him as he had asked before leaving school to drive there. I had contemplated cancelling as I’m pretty tired from the first full week of classes but figured it would help keep me going for the rest of the day rather than sitting around for the whole four-hour break between classes. Unfortunately, Matt replied that he was busy caring for his mother-in-law who had broken her ankle. Well, the change of plan was fine. I mean, I don’t need much convincing to sit around drinking coffee in a favourite cafe and doing bits and pieces of reading and writing.
Something I learned today?
Also at House, Gui offered me a new tea that he had in stock. He told me it was a famous Chiang Rai tea though I didn’t quite catch the name and when he presented it to me it was blue, made with butterfly pea flowers. It was sweet tasting without having any sugar added and refreshing with ice. He then offered more but this time with milk and a little syrup and that was delicious. Along with two coffees and two glasses of water, I was well slaked.
Where do I usually find inspiration?
Well, I guess thinking back on today’s poetic inspiration it would appear that pretty ladies are where I usually find it! In general though, I would say inspiration is found in beauty, wherever that may be seen. A river, a rainbow, a flower, a tree. Similarly, it can be found within the dark ugly shadows of desperation too.
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