The Aim is Gratitude
A Poem
The aim is gratitude
every morning
the aim is compassion and goodness
the aim is putting things into our minds, bodies, spirits that
only uplift and heal and that are only from places that uplift and heal
the aim is do no harm.
In this society this aim is a daily struggle a moment by moment hit or miss
an attempt and a fail a let’s do what we can when we can
because tracing the source of all that we use
and all that we eat and all that we consume in any way
is an intentionally difficult game full of smokescreens and shields and obstacles and lies
full of
the ideology that everyone has a right to eat and do and watch and say anything they want and that is freedom and that is the meaning of life here and that is our way/that is usually utilized to protect the worst of things and to make the best of things seem/Goody-goody or out of reach or hippy or elitist or silly and too much
full of
the ideology that well they — they meaning what, the system, the man, the corporations, the government, they — would not make this if it were not okay for people to eat, watch, do, listen to, take part in — /this ideology that somehow everything that exists has been approved for spiritual mental emotional physical well-being safety and support/When really every single day the aim is gratitude/ the aim is health/ the aim is spirits of peace and goodness/ but the society minefield is loaded /with things that can’t help blowing up/ they are made of slices/ they are made of knives/ they are made of shiny things/ that glitter and glow /that tempt that lure/ that excuse and promise/ and every single day it’s about navigating this/And learning to do so with compassion for ourselves when we fall in, fall down, blow up when those we love fall in, fall down, blow up —
when it seems impossible to start this all over again, when it seems to be easier to compartmentalize, numb out, shut down
and do good and be good and feel good and bring good maybe just one day a week
instead of making it a spiritual life practice
instead of making it your thing your you when it seems easier to lay down on the field and give in
to whatever the trend of the minute is/ the big sale/ the big new news/ the big better big more product/ the big lies/ when it seems easier to forget and pretend that most of the world might actually be in between fire and water and this stuff will come for us all eventually and soon/When it seems easier to forget that each day, each wake up, each get up is about aiming for gratitude aiming for compassion aiming for goodness and that can start and stay and stick with ensuring the things you give to your body and heart and mind and spirit
are vetted for their value for their meaning
for their spiritual safety for their source
for their intent And to ensure even when it is hard that these things that
you surround yourself with
and that you give to your family and to those who wake up with you
start the day with you
are all aiming for gratitude
aiming for compassion aiming for goodness and justice,
and justice, and justice
in the most righteous of ways that uplift and heal and that create no harm this wake up, this am, this morning, this new day can be one of powerful
positive radiating change, aim for gratitude, aim for compassion, aim for goodness and pay no mind, pay no attention, give no energy, give no eyes, to the things that shine and explode, that hide and lie, that do not aim for the things that will bring us to light, love, and life. The real freedom is to choose to do no harm to choose to give to choose to be kind to choose to do your part to take no part in a system that prides itself on harm and disguise.
The real freedom is to have faith
for the better and to give
your body your mind
your spirit your heart and
use it all use it all up for the greater and greatest good.
Jenny Justice is a poet mom who brings poetry to life in ways that spark empathy, connection, joy, and feeling. You can read more of her poetry at Justice Poetic. Sign up for her poem a week newsletter here.
