Something about East Coast Decembers — maybe it’s all that gray light — puts me in a more reflective frame of mind. I mull over the issues that have dogged me over the prior year and resolve, yet again, to do better. Towards that end, I jotted down this short prayer. It’s hardly poetry, but it’s helping me cut through some of my own bullshit. I hope it wends its way to anyone who might find it useful.
Criticizing is easy; creating is difficult. Help me to be someone who creates.
Consuming is easy; producing is difficult. Help me to be someone who produces.
Ignoring is easy; paying attention is difficult. Help me to be someone who pays attention.
Self-pity is easy; self-discipline is difficult. Help me to be someone who is self-disciplined.
Self-consciousness is easy; self-forgetting is difficult. Help me to be someone who forgets myself.
Impulse is easy; restraint is difficult. Help me to be someone who exercises restraint.
Talk is easy; action is difficult. Help me to be someone who acts.
Being nice is easy; doing good is difficult. Help me to be someone who does good.
Liking is easy; loving is difficult. Help me to be someone who loves.
Taking is easy; giving is difficult. Help me to be someone who gives.
Wanting is easy; contentment is difficult. Help me to be someone who is content.
Despair is easy, and joy can be easy, too. But whether easy or difficult, joy is a choice. Help me to be someone who chooses joy.