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Month: January 2026

The Will Within

we happened

to arrive

at the same time

and place

both looking

for relief

his was obvious

in a glance

maybe the heaviest human

i had ever witnessed

in person

he was gasping

for breath

before

he wheeled himself

through the door

it took him awhile

just to make it

out of the car

parked by the entrance

and even longer

to make it

to the ramp

where he had to stop and rest

before wheeling himself down

and all the while

his labored breathing

was audible

from a distance

and you couldn’t help but wonder

how he came to be

as obese as he was

what was his story …

there’s always a story

behind the surface

of things

especially hard things

as he fought for each breath

his being – just being there

in a public gym

fighting for his life

was beyond inspiring

he was a miracle in motion

and a testament

to the human spirit

the will within

that once you decide

to make a change

for the better

no matter how big it is

or how small

you’re already better

for it

just by believing

you can …

the rest

will follow

TL

Winn Dixie

Winn Dixie

on the first day

of 2026

went to

buy ‘ya

some roses

but there weren’t any

to be had

not even a baby’s

breath

no daisies

no carnations

no tulips

no nothing

nada

it was so strange

and i turned to the clerk

who walked past

and asked her

what happened to all the flowers

and she shook her head and sadly said

they took ‘em all up

‘cause the store’s closing

next month

i looked at her

in disbelief

but she had been living with this news

for quite some time  

she said she’d worked there

18 years

and had cried that morning

not knowing what in the world

she’s gonna do now

she has kids

but didn’t mention a man

what a way

to start the Year

like so many

she’s just getting by

taking it

one day

at a time

overweight and underpaid

with bills that keep coming

and mouths that need feeding

she’s gotta be strong

there’s no choice

about it

and she knows it

life is a test

and it will test you

to the very core

of who you are

or ever hope to be

resilience is formed

in the fire

TL

Daybreak

Daybreak

the ground still

wet with rain

left the leaves plastered

and the bark black

in the mist of morning

with the moon about

the air felt crisp

and cool

like the mountains

dipped in snow

when you feel young

and alive

and time is

in your favor

TL

Self-Discipline

“Train the body

but guard the mind

master emotion

and walk toward fear

pain will shape you

and discipline will free you

when excuses die

and focus remains

nothing can collapse

a mind

that has chosen

to rise

motivation is unreliable

because it depends on feeling

discipline is reliable

because it depends on decision

when you stop waiting

to feel ready

and act anyway

you step …

into freedom”

– Bruce Lee