Butterfly

by Jo Torres

 

I was content

Within the confines of my new found freedom

To be strong

To move forward

To take care of everything.

 

Then the shell cracked.

I had grown beyond the walls that held me,

These walls of freedom.

I wanted more.

 

A warm wind woke desire.

A soft light beckoned through the cracks.

Intrigued, I struggled

And sought my escape.

 

You did not reach back for me,

You did not crack the shell and peel the pieces back.

You did not wipe the slime from my eyes

Nor knock the remnants off my skin.

 

You did so much more.

 

You cheered each struggle,

You showed me where pieces clung to my back,

You pointed to the way of escape.

Always letting me fight my way.

 

I emerged

Unfurling the wings of my beauty,

My true freedom.

Bathing in your light.

 

You are my sunshine.

Love

by Jo Torres

Love has to come from love of self before we can truly love others. Love is freedom and happiness–our own freedom from the external influences around us, and the freedom to allow those we love to be who they are. Love is working to pull forth our own happiness from within and the desire that the other person becomes even happier than we are. Love of self comes from a strong sense of who we are, that we are awesome just the way we are.

If we are being influenced into being unhappy or angry by others, or those we “love,” then it is a sure sign that we do not really believe we are awesome (Buddhas), but that we are looking for validation from others, often through the “proof” that someone loves us. We can only develop a strong identity of self through our thoughts, words and actions each day.

When we work to develop our inner potential, then we realize our self worth. If we waste our days away doing nothing of real value, or succumbing to the negative influences of the world around us, we buy in to what others say or do, allowing “them” to influence our identity of self worth.

Each of us are awesome just as we are. We are Buddhas, just as we are. There is room for improvement, for pulling from within our highest potential, but we are wondrous beings in this moment.

Live in this moment. It is all there is.

About Jocelyn

Jocelyn Parkhurst, Ph.D. -- President and Executive Director of Changing Tides

I received my Ph.D. in Political Science at Washington State University in 2004. After teaching for 2 years at Soka University in Orange County, California, and then 1 year at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, in 2006, I began a five year full time faculty run at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. Currently, while still teaching numerous online courses at a variety of online and ground based institutions, I am the President and Executive Director of a non-profit organization, Changing Tides, Inc., that seeks to connect at risk groups to education.

I have been lucky and privilged to find a wonderful husband, and we work to blend our two families into one. Much of what you will see on these pages reflects this effort and the positive outcomes, and struggles, that we experience.

I hope you enjoy!