Lighter Than Air

A Poem

Did you ever dream that you were like a balloon
So light that you could rise effortlessly into the sky
And mingle there among the clouds
With the feeling that you belonged
That you finally were among friends
Instead of dealing with the innumerable competitors
You face daily while grounded

Or do your dreams take you on a different path
One where you are dressed only in nature’s rays
As you bask in the sun’s warmth
And join the little people of the earth
As they parade and prance
Out of the sight of human eyes
That so often are filled with their judgment
And polite damnation of your defiant difference

Perhaps you would be one of the “invisible”
Able to walk among crowds
Unencumbered by the weighty demands
Of “shoulds” and “ought tos”
Never soiled by the dirt beneath your feet
Able to bravely follow the highway of light
Despite whatever obstacles you might encounter
Not seen by those whose eyes are shut
To your radiance as you pass them by

What keeps you from following your heart’s desires
From finding joy and peace in your life
That makes it difficult to lay down your self-imposed burdens
That keep you mired down in sadness and anxiety
Who imposed on you
The need to constantly strive for success
As measured by the regard of others?

The goal of an elusive happiness always just ahead
Is that what motivates you
Or is it a noble sense of responsibility and obligation to family
That drives you ever harder
Does some measure of guilt for past inadequacies
Occupy your thoughts and energies
Leaving you always dissatisfied with your efforts

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