Up and Down

Too serious, too giddy.

Trying to take control too much, not taking charge enough.

Being too strict, being too lenient.

Not seeing enough, seeing too much.

Too gentle, too firm.

Too much of one, then too little of the same.

Where does the line go, and how do you find it, and how do you keep it too?

You see one thing, they see another. Which one is right and how can you know?

You can do everything you possibly can, but is it ever enough?

Is an explanation ever going to be heard? Or can you never talk again?

Do you have the right to defend yourself? Do you really have the right to, to anyone?

Every time something happens, you’ve got to change. You change one direction or another. But either direction you change, you’ve got to then change back because you’re doing it wrong again. Is there a center area anywhere where you can actually do it right?

Is it even possible to please?  Or ever get this right?



Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014

The Backwards World-Teasing With Insults

Never trust a person that teases with insults. For so often it turns into their belief. Only be positive in all that you say. For you'll eventually believe what you said, whether or not you really meant it.

You know, if the do it just every once in a while, than it's not really that big of a deal. When it starts to become a regular thing though, that's when you should worry. It means that they are not afraid, and don't have any qualms about, just popping off with something that can be kindof mean or degrading. In that case then, you start to wonder what kinds of things they are saying about you behind your back too.



Don't put doubts in people's minds. Don't put hurtful in thoughts there that could bounce around for quite a while. Nobody likes to hear those things, even if you're "just teasing" or "just kidding". After a while the start to wonder if there really is some truth to it, otherwise, why would you keep saying it? Why would you keep bringing it up?

Fill people's lives with only positive. You can be firm in your corrections, but don't be insulting. That won't inspire anyone to change. It will just hurt them. Don't be responsible for hurting so many people. Don't be responsible for making them cry. It can get out of hand really, really fast, so don't even start down that path. It's just miserable for both sides, and a lot of friendships can be slowly, or quickly, ruined from that. 


It is especially important as a friend, and just as important, or more, as a parent, teacher, or coach. When someone looks up to you, don't rip them down, even in light-hearted teasing. It can cause them a lot of pain, feelings of self-worthlessness, and it can cause them to start doing the same since they looked up to you. It can be harder to look up to someone after that, and they will probably remember at least occasionally for the rest of their lives.


Don't be so blind to the damage you can do. Sometimes it doesn't come all at once either. Sometimes you might do it once, and you might not realize the potential it has for hurt. But people laughed, or acted like it wasn't a big deal or something, so then you end up doing it more and more. Just know, that eventually it really will wear the person down, and it will get to them eventually. The words don't just fly away. They bounce around inside of them for a while.

Everyone starts out with some self-worth, and self-esteem issues. Many people are very, very strong. But if you do it over and over, it can wear some of the very strongest down. Some of your most loyal students, and some of your closest friends. 

And listen to them. If they tell you that they don't like what you're saying or what you're calling them, don't just brush it off. Don't just tell them to suck it up, or that it's not a big deal, or that you were "just kidding". Nobody should ever say that to anybody that's hurting. 

Just be positive in everything that you say. Don't tease meanly. It can get out of hand so very quickly, and it can cause so much damage. Maybe you don't see it now, but eventually you will. 



Tara J. Howard


Copyright 2014

An Ode to the Lonely

You feel alone,

Your dreams seem so far.

All that you wish,

Is on a dead star.

Without a hope,

Right now you’re not sure.

What do you need?

Just something that’s yours.

Someone to hear,

All you have to say.

Someone to help you,

Who won’t go away.

Someone to talk,

And encourage too.

Just so you know,

They care about you.

Someone to help,

You up when you fall.

Someone to cry,

When you’ve lost it all.

Someone to push,

You on to your dreams.

Someone who sees,

All that you can be.

Why won’t they help you?

Why won’t they try?

You’ve felt all your dreams,

Sometimes almost die.

But you’ve held onto them,

With fire and grit.

Hoping that someday,

They’ll help you to it.

That’s what you need,

We all know it too.

A dream to hold onto,

A person that’s true.

Just so you know,

That you really do matter.

But they left you alone,

And your dreams they have shattered.

Tara J. Howard


Copyright 2014

Ten Basic Manners

1.    Say Please and Thank you. It never gets old. Get used to the feel of it on your tongue. Also, "I’m sorry" is another good phrase to memorize, as well as "excuse me.". Don’t be too embarrassed or too prideful to say it.

2.    Saying Sir and Ma’am to everyone is needed a whole lot more in this world. Be respectful and polite in all of your language and manners.

3.    Don’t interrupt. Unless there’s an emergency. No matter how badly you want to say something, don’t interrupt. It’s rude. Just save it.

4.    Take care of yourself. Use proper hygiene, and make sure you are presentable at all times. Everyone loves a good mud fight sometimes, and that is just fine. Even on dates. But don’t go around looking like a mud hole all the time.

5.    Chew your food with your mouth closed. You’re not a cow, nobody wants to see it, or hear it. Ever. Remember, smaller bites help to accommodate that.

6.    Understand people’s boundaries. Don’t get too close if they are not comfortable with it. Different people have different boundaries levels. Respect that.

7.    Don’t drag your feet when you walk. You don’t have to tiptoe, but learn how to pick up your feet and walk quietly, like a lady or a gentleman.

8.    Don’t stay too long, too late, or come excessively. As they say “Don’t overstay your welcome.” Know the limits, and what people are comfortable with.

9.    Keep clean what’s yours, and take good care if it’s somebody else’s too. Don’t abuse the privilege of borrowing someone else’s things.

10.   Don’t try to be something you’re not. Nobody likes a fake. You can learn something you haven’t learned before, and you become something you haven’t been before too. Don’t fake it though. Be who you really are, and let your achievements change you for the better only.



Feel free to add more. J

     
 
Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014

Indomitable Spirit

I will fight for the things that are wrong. And stand up against the people that are doing wrong. Whether or not they are my friends. 

But, as I do so, I will not be cruel, or harsh, or mean. And I refuse to put up with people that are. If they believe that is the only way to get their point across, then they still have many lessons to learn.

There are other ways of talking to them. And there are better ways of dealing with this. I refuse to be two-sided. And I refuse to be broken or ripped apart for the things that I know I was doing right. 

I am going to stand my ground against this. I will be me, and I will do what's right, and stand up for what's right. 

I know who I am, and I refuse to be changed for the worse. I have the tools now to become better and become everything I want to become. When people see me, they will see Me. Not a showcase, or a plastic exterior. Everyone will know me exactly as I am, and I will be real, true, sincere, kind, and a real friend. 

Indomitable Spirit: "The refusal to be dominated by opposition. The will to get up and go again."

Tara J. Howard


Copyright 2014

I'm Going Anyway-Poem

She said: I am going.

They said: It will be hard and you will get tired.

She said: "I'm going anyway."

The trials will hurt you, the problems will thwart you.

"I'm going anyway."

You could break your bones, from rocks, sticks, and stones.

You could be alone, lose friends you have known.

"I'm going anyway."

You could lose it all, and in the end, fall.

You could start to cry, you could even die.

"I'm going anyway."

Everything could stand against you, 

It could maime and crush you.

It could all come to naught, 

And you could be forgot.

It could just near kill you,

So will you still go? Will you? Will you?

And she said: "Yes.

I know what I want. I know what I've fought.

I know I will hurt. But I'll smile through the dirt.

I could lose all my friends, but it's not the end.

The trials will come, I'll still continue on.

The changes you'll see, you'll see who I'll be.

I know what I want, and I will not give up!"

"I am going anyway."

Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014

Your Quest, Your Journey, Your Pain

I believe that every quest anyone takes will always hurt them in some way. It can also always help us, but only if we allow it too. If we don't allow changes to take place in us along our journey, then all the quest will do is hurt us deeply.

At the same time though, I believe that a quest is never complete unless it is filled with some sort of pain and hurt that has to be conquered by the end. All quests and journeys have some sort of great suffering included in them. If they didn't, then it wouldn't really be a journey or a challenge.

Pain and suffering are two of the things that can always change us the very most. But still, we have to let it change us. We cannot fight and strike out, but in the end we still must conquer it. How though? That is different for everyone. 

Pain can change a person, either for the better or for the worse. It either makes a person stronger, or makes them weaker. It either pushes them off the path of their dreams, or spurs them onward. It can change a person to greater good, or push them off the edge to evil. It can be the great changer of people. 

The question that many people have asked though is: Is pain just all in your mind? I don't believe it is, although I believe your mind can change it greatly. Even emotional pain can become very, very physical. Ask someone that's experienced it. Sometimes it can just be in your stomach. Sometimes it can be throughout your whole body. Everyone feels it differently. It can sometimes be worse than any sort of physical torture you could possibly imagine.

The pain is what helps us to grow and to change. How we deal with the pain, and how we use it, that is what determines the change that happens inside of us. That's what determines whether it helps us, or hurts us.

Physical growing pains young people face,
Always accompany physical growth.
The inner pains that you have each day of your life,
Are just growing pains, but for you soul.



Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014