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You do not have to be good...

1/30/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
photo credit: fRandi-Shooters via photopin cc
Mary Oliver, the American poet wrote 
'You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves. [...]'

In these few short words she opens up the possibility of another kind of life;
a life which is not ruled by the need to be good,
a life in which you can forgive your self for mistakes made,
a life in which you allow your self to know what it is you truly love.
If only for a minute, allow your self the luxury of imagining such a life!
What does it look like?
What does it sound like?
Who is in this one precious life of yours?
What do you spend your days doing?
Just for a moment hold back the avalanche of shoulds, musts and ought to's,
and make a note of what you see.
Then look at your life with new eyes,
and take one small step,
in the direction of your dreams.

More about Being 'Good'

2 Comments
Mairead link
2/6/2013 07:06:44 am

Martine - My sister sent me this poem to read this week - what a coincidence. Great minds think alike. It is a beautiful poem with a deep, meaningful message for all of us. Thank you for your post.
Mairead

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Martine Brennan link
2/8/2013 01:36:52 am

Mary Oliver is amazing Mairead. I haveonly just discovered her writing. Mx

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