Helping Someone To Find That Silver Lining

[Guest]

Does anyone have a poem to give to a friend who is going through a hard time, and needs help finding that silver lining?

 

I know it's a bit of a long shot but I've trawled the Internet a bit and haven't come up with much. I considered doing my own, but haven't been brave enough!

 

She takes comfort in powerful words, etc, and I thought a poem may be a good medium?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Running Bunny]

Not necessarily poems, but my initial thoughts were 'Footsteps in the sand' or 'Grant me the serenity' (see below)

However, these are both religion based and not sure if they would be appropriate?

 

God Grant Me the Serenity

 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

 

Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

 

 

Reinhold Neibuhr

 

I'll have another think during the day (it's still early )

[JacquieL]

Not sure if your friend is religious but this is quite good :

 

"Everyone who asks recieves; everyone who recieves finds;

and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.'

Luke 11:10

 

You could try typeing Inspiirational poems into Google. You kn0w the kind of thing that would help your friend and what she might find trite or unsuitable and you know what will fit her situation.

I actually really like the poem 'After Apple Picking' by Robert Frost- but that is more for someone looking back over their life and what they might have done and didn't.

 

My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree

Toward heaven still,

And there's a barrel that I didn't fill

Beside it, and there may be two or three

Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.

But I am done with apple-picking now.

Essence of winter sleep is on the night,

The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.

I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight

I got from looking through a pane of glass

I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough

And held against the world of hoary grass.

It melted, and I let it fall and break.

But I was well

Upon my way to sleep before it fell,

And I could tell

What form my dreaming was about to take.

Magnified apples appear and disappear,

Stem end and blossom end,

And every fleck of russet showing clear.

My instep arch not only keeps the ache,

It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.

I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend.

 

And I keep hearing from the cellar bin

The rumbling sound

Of load on load of apples coming in.

For I have had too much

Of apple-picking: I am overtired

Of the great harvest I myself desired.

There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,

Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall.

For all

That struck the earth,

No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,

Went surely to the cider-apple heap

As of no worth.

One can see what will trouble

This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.

Were he not gone,

The woodchuck could say whether it's like his

Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,

Or just some human sleep.

[Guest]

I don't know so much about helping someone find that silver lining, but i know this poem helped me along in hard times.... may or not be useful!

 

 

Don't Quit

 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh

 

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest, you must - but don't you quit

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As everyone of us sometimes learns

 

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out

Don't give up, though the pace seems slow

You might succeed with another blow

 

Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst, That you MUST NOT QUIT!

 

by Quinton Howell

(i think i should put that one up on the office wall LOL)

 

 

The following two i got of the internet

 

Always have a dream

 

When you’re young you can clearly see

A dream of whom you want to be

Policeman, Fireman, Pilot or Nurse

Or possibly an Undertaker driving a Hearse

 

You may dream of driving a big flashy car

Or collecting marbles in a jar

Living in a mansion with it’s own swimming pool

Or lunching with the fairies under a large toadstool

 

Life tends to have many a twist and turn

And on it’s path we may seek to learn

Our dreams may change or sometimes dim

Or seem like they were a childhood whim

 

Never give up or call it the end

For nobody knows what’s around the next bend

No matter what you have done, or where you have been

Always remember to have a dream

 

 

 

By Gaye Algar

 

(January 1993)

 

 

Elliptical Echo

 

How Intense each day unfolds,

Nature's clock, obscure...Behold!

Valleys whisper, rivers know,

Ocean storm's birth...children grow.

 

For each new day, we reconcile,

Our searching gaze... held a while

Not to falter, yes! to hold

Truth eternal, the vast untold.

 

So look upon each of your days

Immerse yourself...absorb it's rays.

Searching inward, feel natures call

Elliptical Echo........Each day our all!

 

By Johnny Docherty

 

 

 

Dawn

Edited March 28, 2007 by Guest

[Beau]

What a lovely thread.

 

EACH DAY BRINGS A CHANCE TO DO BETTER

 

How often we wish for another chance to make a fresh beginning,

A chance to blot out our mistakes and change failure into winning.

And it does not take a special time to make a brand new start,

It only takes the deep desire to try with all our heart.

 

To live a little better and to always be forgiving

And to add a little sunshine to the world in which we're living.

So never give up in despair and think that you are through,

For there's always a tomorrow and a chance to start anew.

[Guest]

Gosh - they all actually reduced me to tears!!!

 

Thanks loads everyone - don't know which to choose x

[Guest]

Believe in What makes you happy

 

Believe in what make you feel good,

Believe in what makes you happy.

Believe in the dreams

you've always wanted to come true

and give them every chance to.

 

life holds no promises

as to what will come your way.

You must search for your own ideals

and work toward reaching them.

Life makes no guarantees

as to what you'll have.

It just gives you time to make choices

and to take chances

and to discover whatever secrets

that might come your way.

 

If you are willing to take

the opportunites you are given

and utilize the abilities you have,

you will constantly fill your life

with special moments

and unforgettable times.

 

no one knows the mysteries of life

or its ultimate meaning,

but for those who are willing

to believe in their dreams

and in themselves,

life is a precious gift

in which anything is possible.

 

Dena Dilaconi

Taken fron the book The language of Happiness.

 

It was given to me by a staff member before she left, the book has some beautiful poems and very good verses taken from lots of differnt people.

hope it helps things always happen for a reason even if the reason is hidden from us at this moment in time.

 

Steph

[Guest]

If any one wants to get this book I think you get it in card shops . when i'm having a really bad day I read itit has some really inspirational words.

It by blue Mountain Press Boulder Colorado

It is a series of books that include the language of friendship, of love, of marriage, evn has the language of teenagers, which I keep saying i'm going to get to see if it helps me with my one

[Deb]

A Churhill quote I belive along the lines of ...

 

 

Success is never final, failure is never fatal, courage is what counts.

[JacquieL]

I am really enjoying this thread, we now have an inspirational and supportive poetry corner.

[Running Bunny]

Not sure if this will help find the silver lining, but it may make your friend smile along the way...

 

A Prayer for the Stressed

Grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage

to change the things I cannot accept,

And the wisdom

to hide the bodies of those I had to kill today because they got on my nerves.

 

And also, help me to be careful of the toes I step on today,

as they may be connected to the feet I may have to kiss tomorrow.

 

Help me always to give 100% at work...

12% on Monday,

23% on Tuesday,

40% on Wednesday,

20% on Thursday

and 5% on Friday

 

And help me to remember...

 

When I'm having a bad day

and it seems that people are trying to wind me up,

it takes 42 muscles to frown,

28 to smile

and only 4 to extend my arm and smack someone in the mouth!

[Beau]

That ones got to be my favourite so far!!

[Guest]

Running Bunny - I'm having that one for myself!!

[Guest]

When I was really down my cousin sent me this poem, it made me cry but also put a massive smile on my face, it really helped.

 

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

 

It's funny really how things go wrong

When answers are short and questions long

Problems grow and cover you

And you start to wander just what to do

 

You lose your laughs, you miss your smiles

Things drag on for miles and miles

People stare as if your mad

But you know, you just feel sad

 

Well, just remember we've all been there

And we as friends do so care

The grass is green and the sun is shining

For every cloud has a silver lining

[Guest]

Jem that's lovely.

[Guest]

I really like some of the lines from Desiderata - they keep me going sometimes.

 

'You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should...With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.'

[Guest]

Wow, thank you for starting this Shelly -

I was sitting at my computor in the middle of a huge essay that has to be fineshed by Tuesday, in despair as work is difficult and I am contemplating handing in my notice on Monday, feeling so down and then as a break went on this site and found these inspirational poems - I will print out a few and stick them in my room around me to keep me going.

 

Must be something in the air where we work Shelley as another local Manager has just left, are you still there? I have to give 4 weeks notice - not sure if the job I have been offered is out of the frying pan into the fire!!!

 

Thanks for the poems girls, you have kept an old girl on track to-day!

 

Teri

[Guest]

I've found this hug poem with music which cheered me up:

http://www.lovethissite.com/hugs/

 

and this poem is lovely too:

 

 

If I Could Catch A Rainbow

by Sandra Lewis Pringle

 

 

 

 

If I could catch a rainbow,

I would do it, just for you,

And, share with you, its beauty,

on the days you're feeling blue.

 

If I could, I would build a mountain,

you could call your very own.

A place to find serenity,

a place just to be alone.

 

If I could, I would take your troubles,

and toss them into the sea.

But, all these things, I'm finding,

are impossible for me.

 

I cannot build a mountain,

or catch a rainbow fair;

but, let me be, what I know best,

a friend, who's always there.

 

I promise to defend you,

should the occasion ever rise,

And, I promise to wipe away the tears,

which might stream from your weeping eyes.

 

Let me be the trusted Friend,

the one that you know best.

I will never leave you, on that,

you can surely rest.