53 Comments
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Jenine Baines's avatar

Oh, I've so been here! It began with my parents refusing to pay my tuition for college if I majored in theater...and I knuckled under. Continued from there UNTIL I retired/got to the age where I lost enough friends to realize it truly is NOW or never. No, I haven't gotten head shots or done a tape but I'm writing poetry and singing after 30 plus years of silence So there you go! My advice to those of you younger. Don your Nikes and just do it!

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Wendy  Gray's avatar

Wow, Jenine. I came to write very nearly just what you have! My goodness....just change the major and yep, all of this. GREAT ADVICE! Glad you show that it is never too late, and even if the years of youth have already gone, start right where you are! I'm doing the same....writing after putting my own desires aside for years.....didn't Franco hit the nail on the head with this one! Blessings to you and all the best in your writing and singing!

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, Wendy ❤️

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Jenine Baines's avatar

Wendy, forgive my tardiness in thanking you for your lovely reply. Been a bit down - re-reading your words is a HUGE boost. THANK YOU

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Wendy  Gray's avatar

Jenine, No worries! We all come to read and respond in so many different time patterns...was glad to get on today and see your reply! Grateful our connected thoughts gave you a boost as yours did me! Also awesome is that the writing of Franco brought us both here! Happy reading, writing and all that brings you joy. Blessings ~Wendy🤗💜

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Rod Bluhm's avatar

Cheers to the road less traveled, Franco. It’s not an easy choice, but it feels so good when we have the guts to give it a go. May this poem encourage more small acts of rebellion.

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Jozef Cain's avatar

I am glad I found your work Franco. This one was inspiring beyond my soul.

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you so much. Glad to have found you as well, brother.

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

Your poem expresses the frustration a lot of us feel. The key is to not let the frustration blind us to opportunities to pursue our dreams. The last lines you write in your commentary have been true for me: "You stay watchful, you stay awake, stay patient, and your time will come. That’s when you must be ready to act." I have found there is time to pursue my dreams if I am not distracted by frustration or resentment and if I'm prepared to take advantage of them when they appear.

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Franco Amati's avatar

It can be hard not to let that frustration blind me but I'm still trying, still focused on the dream. Thank you, brother 🙏

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Kevin Davis's avatar

I just put in my 2 week notice. Without another job lined up! And I'm a single dad!! Shit just got real! I wish I felt better. I thought it would be a real relief... but Lana Del Ray said it right, "Everywhere you go you take your self that's not alive."

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Franco Amati's avatar

Congratulations! Thank you, Kevin.

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Susanna's avatar

Love to live. Love to love. Get messy. Repeat.

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, dear. :)

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Peter d'Errico's avatar

... the situation can be measured by the % of the population on anxiety meds of various kinds ... a whole industry built to profit from insitutionalized depression...

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Franco Amati's avatar

So true. Thank you, Peter.

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Elizabeth Grace Martinez's avatar

I often think about this, how I am preaching about living an authentic life when most people are struggling to get by. But I was also living an authentic life when I was a barista working for tips. It’s possible to live with purpose no matter where you’re at, I believe

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Franco Amati's avatar

We gotta do the best we can. Thank you, Elizabeth 😊

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Jozef Cain's avatar

I think I am learning that this is the secret all the self help gurus talk about. Having security within is the only thing that will lead to whatever security we seek outside ourselves. I been listening to Earl Nightingale a lot lately and it's been hitting. Also his voice is great imo, lol.

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Franco Amati's avatar

Security within- that's the goal. I'll have to check him out. Thank you Jozef.

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Elizabeth Grace Martinez's avatar

I don’t know him, I’ll check him out!

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Franco Amati's avatar

👍

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Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

I used to listen to his daily broadcast. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Nightingale

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Elizabeth Grace Martinez's avatar

oh nice thank you

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Trish Reader's avatar

Expressing a lot of what’s happening for me lately, and my angst for others in the world right now too.. thank you for putting words to it all. So much love to you Franco, and to everyone else here. ❤️

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, Trish. Right back at you ❤️

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Deb's avatar

Stop being scared of living life the way YOU want to…and start to do all the things you’ve been wanting to do! Don’t care what others might say/do…that’s on them..set yourself free & dare to try new things..feel excited about your dreams! 💕

Don’t let anybody criticise you.

Stay in your ‘Power’ 🙌

It’s YOUR life!!

So live it, YOUR way!!

Enjoy it..

Be carefree..😄

We’re only here ONCE & it goes so fast! 🥹 Go for it!

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you Deb ❤️

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Deb's avatar

Wow! This is amazing 🥲

I needed to read this today!

You couldn’t be more right in every single thing you put!

Wow!! 💯👌👌👌 well done 👏

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you Deb. I appreciate this very much.

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Joe Luca's avatar

Yeah, that hit the spot. Rang the bell that marks a truth slipping in through the gate, and greeting us with a hug. In the past I've read so many stories, so many articles that talk about what courage is how it manifests and most of them talked about bravery under fire. But what about getting up in the morning and going to work when you don't want to, because the job squeezes the spirit. Sitting down to do math with your son at 8 pm when you're so tired you want to cry. Humans are amazing creatures who endure. Thanks for this one, Franco.

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you Joe. The job does squeeze the spirit. Modern tragedies. Timeless.

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Eagle Eye's avatar

Thanks! Have a wonderful week!

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Franco Amati's avatar

You too

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Eagle Eye's avatar

I teach poetry at the college where I work! So it is great hearing feedback!

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Franco Amati's avatar

That's wonderful. Means a lot to have you here.

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Eagle Eye's avatar

Beautiful poem! Thank you for sharing it!

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thanks Eagle Eye. I'm happy you like it.

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Joe's avatar

What; how did you drop that!?

“eviscerate you with their blades 

of shame”

That sounds like a line Immortal Technique would roll out; though I don’t think he has.

Solid set!

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Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you so much Joe. Really glad you appreciated it today.

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