Aradia's Philosophy

Making Decisions

How many times have we stood,
deciding to either take the next step,
enter into a relationship,
or back off and stay "safe"?
So afraid of being hurt,
we are afraid to love?
I have learned, that in order to grow,
we must accept pain,
as well as happiness and joy.
We must know un-happiness
in order to recognize happiness.

I have learned that I must show trust,
or how can I expect others to trust me?
I have learned that to show my love,
and to be assured that I am loved,
I need to touch, be touched.
But for some, this is not true.
They show their love by just being there.
To them, that's all they can give.
This does not make me worse,
or them better.
Simply different.

I have learned,
I cannot choose the things
that happen to me in this life.
I have to accept them,
but I do have the choice
of how I deal with them.
I can choose to do the very best I can
to overcome adversity,
or I can wallow in self-pity.
If I choose to sit down,
feel sorry for myself,
and do nothing,
then I have lost the opportunity
to learn, to grow,
and become a better person.
I can choose to help a friend,
or a stranger,
or I can choose to walk away.

But, should I choose to walk away,
who will help me when I need it?

How can I expect help
if I am too busy,
or too selfish to give it?

I have learned that having children
is a lifetime commitment.
A commitment we cannot
"resign from"
or "retire from".

That I can raise my children
with the same biological parents,
in the same home,
with the same teaching and discipline,
yet they will grow into adults
and be totally different.
Their values and standards
as different as if they were not related.

Why?

I don't think anyone knows;
maybe having a child
is like playing genetic roulette?
Yet we love them
with all our hearts and souls.
And thank God for them each day.

I have not always made my choices wisely,
but I made them.
thinking and trusting
they were the right choices.
I have learned that making my choices,
wisely or un-wisely
is better for me than living complacently,
like a leaf, blown by the wind,
with no control over its destiny.

I have learned to work hard, honestly,
and plan for tomorrow
but to take time to live today.
Take time to say, "I love you"
to those I care deeply for.
To say "I'm sorry"
to those who feel I have offended them,
BUT ONLY
if I am truly sorry.
For above all, I have learned
that any lasting relationship
demands honesty.

I have learned that I must speak
out when I feel something is wrong,
just as I must agree,
when I feel its right.

Otherwise, by my silence,
I am agreeing/condoning something
that I may feel is very wrong.

I am neither passive nor complacent
but I am a better person
because I am not.

Passivity and complacency are nothing
but moral/mental laziness

My opinion only, of course.

I have not learned nearly enough,
but the lessons I learned,
I have learned well.
The choices I make in the future
will be made with the wisdom I have gained
from past choices.

Now you know even more about Aradia,
my thoughts, my dreams,
my hopes for a better tomorrow.

Stay safe, be happy,
and never ever be afraid to dream.

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Ability

Ability is to look at a blank page,
And create a poem.
Ability is to stare into the eyes of fear,
And come out stronger because of it.
Ability is to walk into a room of strangers,
And come out with friends.
Ability is to admit you are wrong,
When you are wrong.
Ability is to get back up,
When you fall down.
Ability is to believe,
When everything seems lost.

Ability – a simple word,
with a complex meaning.
For many, ability is never found,
but for all ability is within.
Ability stares everyone in the face
at one time or another.
Whether your ability is
how well you shoot hoops,
How well you flip at dancing,
How smart you are at school.
You have ability.
For some, ability is lost by never trying.
Whether never trying to shoot
one more time,
Never trying to bend a little more,
Or never trying to score higher in school.

Ability is within.
Ability is yours.

By Selina E. Matis

My Thanks to Beverly
for these beautiful graphics

Bruce, thanks so much for your permission
to use this beautiful Midi

Original CDs are available at