Gathering Dust

Perhaps I was just afraid of being read, did my fear manifest itself so clearly?

Was that the reason that although I always thought of myself as being full of colour and intrigue, no one would ever go past the first few pages.

Yet there I stood, all this time, on that shelf, I was sure I was in the right section, that’s always a worry, that you’ve been labelled incorrectly or are hidden amongst the encyclopedias that no one wants anymore, but that wasn’t me.

Every now and then someone would pull me down and browse through my pages, some were gentle and gave a little smile, some would seem exasperated, some perplexed, I began to worry, what was so wrong with my contents that on each occasion they would reach back up and place me exactly where I had stood for so long.

I was very self aware, or so i thought, but the reality of each person is seldom shared with others.

And then one day she walked in, it was her first visit, graceful yet so unaware of her beauty it was refreshing, her eyes were full of intrigue but she had an apprehension inside her, as if she already knew what she wanted wouldn’t be found here.

She lent forward to the lady behind the counter and whispered in her ear…the old lady chuckled, “Are you sure that’s what you want dear,  we have so many wonderful things for you to read.”

She nodded, a playful twinkle in her eyes.

“Hmmm, I don’t think anything like that exists anymore dear but you can have a look”, the old lady continued.

Then, the strangest thing happened, some call it coincidence, some karma or fate, some would say it was dumb luck, I’ll let you decide, but as she danced amongst the hundreds of books, pulling them down then returning them to their original place one by one, eventually, as she began to lose hope, she suddenly stopped…looking intently in my direction, I was now very aware of my worn corners and torn cover, she reached up and gently ran her finger down my spine.

As she pulled me down from the shelf, blowing the dust from my cover I felt a warmth that had deserted me many years ago, I waited…but nothing, she didn’t poke at my torn edges, or move me to the side to get at something else or even ask how much I was. She sat herself down right there and turned to my front page…we spent hours together, an emotional rainbow overcame her as she turned my pages, I was intoxicated by her desire to go further and further and see what more I had to offer, I was so confused, what so so exciting that she couldn’t put me down.

The sun had begun to set on that day as she put me lovingly into her bag, she tossed the receipt into the bin…there was no way she would be returning me she thought to herself as she smiled.

And so here we are, some time has passed and although my pages still don’t always have the answers, she whispers to me regularly that I was exactly what she had been searching for.

The truth is, she was the only one that could ever have chosen me, she was the only one who realised that half of my pages were blank not because I was incomplete, but in fact were blank because I had been waiting for her, so she could finally write her own story; which was what she had desired for so, so long.

The Management Game

A very dear friend and colleague of mine has recently been passed up for promotion, she is more than capable and very deserving, but her manager is selfish and deceitful…so I wrote a few words for her, perhaps to try and inspire or more likely to appease my growing annoyance at the current state of affairs.

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The situation is very delicate, the nuances are far from intricate, my poor friend, how long will you anticipate, this is a task her manager should instigate.

All she ever does is delegate, the time has come, she really must abdicate, with her team she can no longer relate, her only skill is to manipulate.

My dear friend, your work is immaculate, in all matters you have impeccable taste, you have such grace that you never unnecessarily gesticulate, yet I feel your pain, I can relate.

This so called leader better appreciate, we do not accept the terms that she tries to dictate, she continues to disrespect someone we all so highly rate.

Her behaviour does nothing but contaminate, hear our words, this is our final mandate.

Now she needs to start to placate, why does she continue to underestimate, you try so hard to articulate, but she is deaf and blind to your desire to do something great.

In her decisions there is haste, in her eyes I see hate, now is the time she must set a date, when she will shake your hand and congratulate, my friend it’s time for you to step up to the plate.

This is no time to wait, raise your voice and remonstrate, your qualities so well you demonstrate, I’m trying not to become irate, oh dear god I’m in such a state, this anger in me, I cannot concentrate, will she ever change, I can guess her fate, she has nowhere else to hide, I see her next move, checkmate.

 

The sunrise within

Is that a smile, try again, if that’s all you got, then I applaud you, in some small way you took a shot. It’s hard I know, the suns not shining, and the entire world is whining, ignore them, try to look deeper than the rays of anticipated light, this world is still such a glorious sight.  Just stop for a second and breath, between the lines of life you have to read. What’s done is done, karma has been and gone, there will be those who try to stop your fun, but don’t look back just run, who cares if you are seen, life is not judged by the volume of your green, or by the moment when you’re asked do you want your latte with cream, nor by how many people laugh at your jokes, or when you login by the number of pokes. Life is simply about how you feel about…you, don’t you see, ask yourself do you always step with an intentional positivity? And before I hear you interject, who cares about this ill-advised self respect, emotional prospective of logic is bereft, stand tall, be direct, look at yourself and inspect.  Stare deep within, does it make your head spin, if there is an awful din then hussssshhhh, tell it to quiet down, as you lift your hands and lay on your head the crown.  Lest ye forget you are the queen of your own destiny, let this be an epiphany that allows you to finally see, the unrivalled beauty of the the sunrise that was hidden from view, but now is shining down on each and every one of you. Make haste, yet stand still, join forces with all of the lost souls, those who strive for direction and plans and goals. Yet all they need is the realisation that there is no sun, keep waiting and pointing but it will not come. This moment is yours and his and hers and theirs and even mine!  For today I implore you to recognise, it is OUR time to shine!