Grateful For The Glass

Sometimes my glass is half empty

Sometimes my glass is half full

What I’ve realized that’s so wonderful

Is that I am grateful for the glass

Sometimes my thoughts are dark

Sometimes my thoughts are light

What I’ve realized in the darkest night

Is that I’m grateful for both

Sometimes life can knock me down

Sometimes life can pick me up

What I’ve realized is there is a lot to love

I’m grateful for the people in my life

Sometimes I wake up and see storms

Sometimes I wake up and see the sun

What I’ve realized is that when it’s all said and done

It’s how I react to each and that is all up to me

Sometimes I can do nothing but smile

Sometimes I can do nothing but feel the pain

What I’ve realized is it’s okay to not be okay

And that it’s okay to ask for help

Sometimes I think I’m heading in the right direction

God laughs and puts me on a different path

Reminding me to be grateful for the glass

And I look forward and in this moment, thank Him for the blessings

Dear Heart

Dear heart, I’m going to break you a million times

And other people will break you a million more

But you’ll keep on beating

And I’ll keep on breathing

Everyday you stitch yourself back together

And somehow you have become stronger

Give me time to work on the rest of me

‘Cause sometimes my eyes don’t see

‘Cause sometimes my ears don’t hear

And sometimes I live in fear

Should we get started on my mind

It’s scary because it’s on all the time

I know, heart, that it’s a mess

And it causes you a lot of stress

All the times I felt like we weren’t good enough

Dear heart, you were always telling me to love

All the times I thought we should be left alone

I want to thank you heart for not turning to stone

Dear heart, you never ever let me give up

You keep telling me we are enough

I don’t know why everyone walks away

But one day, someone will choose to stay

We will be going through life taking a tour

And unexpectedly, will find a heart like yours

One that’s been sewn together after being broken to pieces

But whose capacity to love never ceases

Together, you will beat as one

Then when your time has come

I want to say thank you heart for a wonderful life

Before you beat for the very last time

I Hate That I Can’t Hate You

I hate that door you walked out of

I hate that bed where we made love

I hate that couch where you sat beside me

I hate Yellowstone and every damn movie

I hate that kitchen where you made dinner

I hate how thoughts of you linger

I hate remembering how your hand fit in mine

I hate not being able to fall asleep at night

I hate all these memories

I hate there was ever a you and me

I hate everything you’ve done and do

I hate that I can’t hate you

I hate seeing that smile on your face

I hate thinking of him in my place

I hate how I got all your lies

I hate how he gets the butterfly

I hate how I can’t trust my heart

I hate sitting alone here in the dark

I hate that I’m even saying these words

I hate that you can’t feel this hurt

I hate that after every thing you put me through

I hate that I can’t hate you

Shouldn’t Matter But It Does by John Mayer –

Messy by Carly Pearce –

That Was Something

We were growing up and knew it all

Nothing but a good time, thought we’d never fall

Looking back I realize we knew nothing

That was 1980 something

Turned 21, got drunk and grew up

We kept falling in and out of love

Living life, man we were running

That was when we were twenty something

Met the girl that changed my world

Got married and had a couple girls

Figuring it out as we were living and loving

That was when we were thirty something

Girls grew up and we grew apart

Didn’t know time would break our hearts

I know I didn’t see this one coming

That was when we were forty something

Got a new house, got a new life

Fell in love, might ask her to be my wife

All these years led me to what I’m becoming

That was when I was fifty something

Heading into winter but summers not over

And the end’s getting a little closer

Don’t know what the next decade will bring

Guess we’ll see when I’m sixty something

Moments turn to memories and the sun will set one last time

And I’ll have gratitude for all that’s been a part of my life

I’ll smile and shake my head, thinking wasn’t that something

Living, loving, laughing, crying, my life, that was something

If I Could Go Back In Time

If I could go back in time

I’d take away everything that caused you pain

I’d tell you that guy’s a jerk and to stay away

I’d tell you not to cross that line

If I could go back in time

I’d be sure you wouldn’t have any scars

I’d be sure you’d never have to unbreak your heart

I’d be sure you would never have to cry

If I could go back in time

From an early age I’d tell you to love yourself

So you’d never have to look for it from someone else

So your eyes would be open, not blind

But if I went back in time

And erased all the things you went through

Then you really wouldn’t be you

You wouldn’t have had those mountains to climb

And you wouldn’t have came out on the other side

Your broken heart and all those scars

Have made you to be exactly who you are

A person who’s learned how to fight

A person who’s left the dark and is finding the light

A person who is stronger than they know

A person who is continuing to grow

A person who I love having in my life

For that I know if I could go back in time

The only thing I wish I could do

Would be to have more time with you

Holding hands, walking side by side

Fire Alarm, Fire Alarm

Fire alarm, fire alarm, why do you hate me so?

Why, at 1 and 4 am, do you think there’s fire and smoke?

Is it because I forgot to change your battery?

Is that a reason to be that cruel to me?

Why not remind me at 7 or 9 pm on a Monday?

Is it because this is the game you like to play?

I’ve got news for you, even though I lost ten minutes of sleep

I will have a great day, my grateful attitude I will keep

Especially when I saw this beautiful sunrise

Fire alarm, fire alarm, I’m thankful you’re here to save my life

We May Never See

Living in a world

We don’t want to see

Too much hurt and pain

Is our reality

Turn off the news

It doesn’t go away

It’s right next door

Seems like it’s here to stay

But I put pen to paper

Write out a few words

Maybe someone will read it

And it’ll help heal the hurt

No one’s perfect, we’ve all done wrong

We’re all paying for someone else’s crime

There’s a time to grieve and a time to grow

We all only have so much time

We all know right from wrong

We all have to live with our mistakes

We all have demons fighting to live

Do you sleep sound in the bed you make?

We all have hurt and pain

We all live in the dark and the light

We all have a choice to forgive

We all can give up or we can fight

We can be bridges or steps, too many are steps

Taking from others to raise themselves up

But being a bridge requires work to connect the gaps

We need more bridges connecting others with love

I’ve never been in your shoes

You’ve never been in mine

We’re not that different

We’re all trying to get through life

A little empathy can go a long way

A simple smile can be a spark

Thoughts matter but action is a verb

A kind word can heal a broken heart

We can all use a little help

I know we’ve turned into an instant culture

But we’re not building on solid foundations

Shifting sand only causes fallen structures

The wind blows and the water rises

And our what ifs and fears turn into reality

We have to lay stones and do the work today

To build a world we may never see

Take The Lead by Jimmy Levy –

Good Day For A Good Day by Michael Franti & Spearhead –

Autumn

To be clear, there is no Autumn or anyone else. I’m still figuring out how my new life will look and ready to explore that life alone for awhile. But when the time is right, I hope it comes so unexpectedly I have to catch my breath.

But I might have a little crush on Autumn Reeser.

Winter came and I was dark inside

Wasn’t living, just trying to survive

Wasn’t looking forward to Spring

There wasn’t a love song I could sing

And for once, I didn’t want the Summer heat

Then I saw you and you smiled at me

I wasn’t looking, didn’t see this coming

If I did I probably would’ve been running

I wasn’t ready for this again

Wasn’t ready for these feelings to begin

Wasn’t looking to love someone else

But you know I can’t lie to myself

These feelings I wasn’t expecting at all

Damn Autumn, I wasn’t expecting to fall

My life is now brighter than the colors of the leaves

And when I’d all but given up I now can believe

Love’s walked out the door so many times before

I was done, didn’t want it anymore

My heart was healing when I thought it was dead

Taking my time to clear out my head

Tired of being hurt and given up on love

Wasn’t even something I was thinking of

Then I saw you and you smiled at me

I caught my breath as my heart skipped a beat

These feelings I wasn’t expecting at all

Damn Autumn, I wasn’t expecting to fall

Break Free Elephant

(note, I took this idea from The Parable of The Elephant and turned it into what I know)

I have a story to tell about a young elephant

Who was born perfect, she was heaven-sent

And as she grew she felt as if her life was excellent

But being tied by a rope was the only life she knew

So she thought it was all normal as she grew

And she didn’t know there was a love that was true

And time went by and through no fault of her own

She wanted love but felt as if love was never shown

She wanted to be seen but felt as if she wasn’t known

So she broke free and was on her own until she met some guys

They sweet talked her and she believed all their lies

They tied a rope around her leg and she didn’t question why

It was what she knew and they told her how much she was loved

She was beautiful and this and that and such and such

And she felt loved and wanted when she was being touched

At times, thoughts of escape would cross her mind

But she dismissed them because these guys were so kind

But she was blind to this rope that binds

Then one day a really nice man said hello

And a true love, he really did show

And he asked elephant, I really want to know

You are so big and so strong, why do you not flee?

Why do you let this rope keep you from being free?

The elephant said this is the life I’ve lived and it’s how it’ll always be

The man said I don’t believe you feel as if that’s true

Because you must really know if they truly loved you

They wouldn’t keep you tied up as you grew

I know you don’t try to escape because you’ve always lived this way

And I want you to know these chains that hold you in place you can break

Love yourself and forgive yourself, you are precious, not a mistake

Don’t continue to give power to those that never loved you and that were negligent

When the wrong kind of love and affection was given during your years of development

So please listen to me, from someone who unconditionally loves you, elephant

Look deep inside your mind and your heart

It’s time, elephant, for a fresh start

This life you’ve lived you must depart

You don’t want to live this way any longer, this we both know

So I’m telling you this elephant to give you hope

Don’t let your life be defined, please do not be confined by this rope

Do not be ambivalent, you were meant to rise above your environment

Because you are elegant, intelligent, and most magnificent

You are worthy, you are enough and you are loved elephant

Maize And Blue

At the beginning of this football season, Conor Smith and Megan Moroney wrote two songs about changing team colors for someone. That got me thinking that I would never change colors so I wrote this one. Of course, this is no where close to being an actual song. Will have to do some serious work on it but you can get the gist.

Maize and Blue

I was already more than a few beers in

I thought I might never have this chance again

I said what the hell and bought you a beer

Asked if you were from around here

You said you were just visiting friends

We talked and I hoped this night wouldn’t end

Your laughter came easy and your eyes sure did shine

I didn’t want to be anywhere else when your hand was in mine

Been a few years since we had that first beer at the Buckeye bar

I knew when I walked you home I fell in love under the stars

And it nearly broke my heart when I crashed back to earth

When she said she’ll always cheer for that team up north

I told her I’ll always bleed Scarlet and Grey

And I will until my dying day

Since the day we met, two things will always be true

I’ll love you and I’ll never wear maize and blue

I hate Alabama and the rest of the SEC

But I’ll yell Roll Tide before I cheer for the Wolverines

She said you know I won’t lie

I’m for anyone playing the Buckeyes

Then I thought there’s no way this is going to last

But I can’t say no when she kisses me like that

I can’t help the way she grew up

I can’t change the team that she loves

Been a few years since we had that first beer at the Buckeye bar

I knew when I walked you home I fell in love under the stars

And it nearly broke my heart when I crashed back to earth

When she said she’ll always cheer for that team up north

I told her I’ll always bleed Scarlet and Grey

And I will until my dying day

Since the day we met, two things will always be true

I’ll love you and I’ll never wear maize and blue

In November when we break her heart again

I’ll make her sing Carmen Ohio after another win

She said I know this’ll be our year

When we score I’ll get you to cheer

That’s when I knew love was blind

Because I knew she was out of her mind

Four weeks in November we tear each other apart

But she knows I love her with all my heart

Been a few years since we had that first beer at the Buckeye bar

I knew when I walked you home I fell in love under the stars

And it nearly broke my heart when I crashed back to earth

When she said she’ll always cheer for that team up north

I told her I’ll always bleed Scarlet and Grey

And I will until my dying day

Since the day we met, two things will always be true

I’ll love you and I’ll never wear maize and blue

Orange and White by Conner Smith –

Tennessee Orange by Megan Moroney –

I Hate Alabama by Conner Smith –

Had Me At Halftime by Morgan Wallen –

We Are Buckeyes by Joseph Allen White –