Wisdom from the Journey

Introduction

You are about to begin a reading adventure that started over two years ago.  My wish is that this reading journey will provide you with a bit of respite from everyday life, generate a few laughs, cause good feelings about yourself and humanity, encourage introspection, and at certain times twinge your conscience on critical issues and thoughts.  Upon reading the last page, I hope you will smile and say, “That felt good!”  These wishes are noble intentions.  Please drop me a line or an e-mail, and let me know if any of these intentions were reached.  My e-mail is bob@poeticaljourneys.com and mailing address is P.O. Box 319, Fredericktown, OH 43019.

This compilation you have in hand primarily consists of the “best” of the Poetical Journal, an e-zine (electronic newsletter) that is sent via e-mail to over 23,000 subscribers worldwide.  Subscribers reside in all fifty states and at least sixty-four countries.  The newsletter is affectionately known as the PJ or the Journal.  The mission was and is “To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life.”

The book title comes from a favorite poem that captures one of my key beliefs.  The thoughts inherent within it serve as the book’s foundation.  The poem Wisdom from the Journey first appeared in the May 19, 2002 Issue of the Poetical Journal.

Wisdom from the Journey

Each day whether hectic or mundane
is a gift to shape and meld us
into whom we are to become.

If we could, we would choose days of sunshine
surrounded by lush, green rolling hills
ending at the seashore
with glorious white sandy beaches.
We would laugh and frolic
with not a care in the world.

But we have lessons to learn
and journeys to complete.

Many days will be filled
with clouds of uncertainty.

“Will the monsoons ever cease?”
“Will the sun ever cut through the dense fog?”

Then unannounced, the gloom will fade
as if never there.
The sun will shine
to bring again her warming peace.
A smile will cross the lips.
The stormy days but recent memories.

But changed we will be
by the wisdom from the journey

The human experience is filled with days of sunshine, clouds, and storms.  How we weather those events determines how we view life and all of its many subtleties.  The chapters to follow will speak to these through a variety of modalities from poetry – to comments – to vignettes.  There are even a few recommendations included to assist and help.