Dare Ahead...
Dare ahead…into the future…
And as you dare to get there…
Dare to be late as you dare your own pace…
Dare to arrive five, ten,
Or even, heaven forbid, twelve minutes after the hour…
Then punch that great “Time Clock,” right in the nose,
Saying to that little machine, “You don’t rule me!”
Dare to break the rules…
Because some of them are cruel and conniving,
They create fear and hate in artificial dividing,
And because, as the late great Katharine Hepburn said,
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”
So dare to have some fun…if for no other reason
Because it feels good, it doesn’t hurt anyone
And because, whenever it allows,
Isn’t that what life is all about?
Dare to question, dare to learn,
Dare to give it a try and dare to make a mistake,
And whilst daring to be perfect, O’ ye perfectionists of the world,
Dare to fail and fall flat on your face,
Then dare laugh at yourself as you get back up,
Saying, “Right on, I’m only human.”
Indeed, dare to be human!
Dare break through the boundaries that get in your way…
Past the clutter and conditioning of culture…
Away from the constraints and expectations of others…
Dare disagree with authority figures…
Dare to disagree, as you dare to be you…
And dare still call them brother…
Disagree with your partner,
And dare still call them lover…
Dare stretch things to the extreme,
And dare they come back together…
And most especially, dare out of your box…
And disagree with yourself…
Yes, dare enter uncomfortable territory…
Feel uncertainty...and still be safe with who you are…
And still be confidant in who you are…
Dare to stand out…Be yourself...
As you dare in the crowd…
Dare complete solitude...and there,
Dare touch the wild savage within…
While still reaching for wisdom beyond…
Dare face the brilliance of truth…
While lost in the pitch of night…
Dare enter chaos…and still find harmony
Face conflict…and still relish peace
Dare accept opposites, dichotomies and paradox…
Dare to stop thinking so black and white…
While finding new boundaries between wrong and right!
Dare take action…dare take responsibility…
Dare not cry victim, when things don’t go your way…
Dare look around you, and see your part in the play…
And when you see you cannot have all the answers
Especially for others…dare let it be,
In discord and disharmony…
Dare, agree to disagree, give a hug and walk away…
Dare create peace by creating some space…
And, as those ugly occasions inevitably arise,
Dare to face those demons, within and outside…
Whether with fear and false pride…
Or envy, jealousy or greed…
Dare face those adversaries and obstacles that stand in your way,
Then dare not attack, nor run away…
Rather dare sit or stand square with them,
Speak and listen...honestly…dare acknowledge them,
Embrace them, as they are, scared little children,
Or let them go, as adults, fighting for freedom.
And dare they treat you likewise...
And when at your end, whether in disease or despair…
Dare attach yourself to hope and health…
Out of body and into mind, psyche and soul
Dare hold, in the center of your being, your favorite dreams…
Knowing, with absolute certainty...
Your dreams are the seeds of things to come…
So that finally, when you dare face even Death itself…
However horrible and terrible and painful it looks at you…
You will dare stare straight back at its fiery red eye…
And see clear beyond, into the heart of the Sun,
Where the flames of Creation burn you clean.
And in those glowing embers that once were yours,
Dare bare witness rising above,
The pure white smoke, of your very own holy-ghost…
Knowing, Life still inside,
These ashes you’ve left behind,
They dare feed the seeds of your dreams…
With time and love and goodness…
In the womb of your dear Mother Earth,
So dare all of this, and more, as the dare goes on…
Or, if you will, dare stand still...
Dare simply listen...and watch what happens...
But whatever you dare, do take care...
And have a very good New Era...
