This . . . Is About Life
Book III: Determine Your Outcome
by
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1) Just Live
Life changes are many, with no end in sight
If you are to survive, then choose to fight
One can accept that over which we have limited control
And live a healthy life as we grow old
There is an opportunity to whine and regret the aging process as grim
Perhaps the wiser role is to accept the change, enjoy life, and act on a whim
Relearn yourself and note all that you can do
Limit the things that no longer define you
There remains happiness and joy from some memories of your past
Allow their presence to strengthen you as a new die is cast
Make use of diet, exercise, and friends at large
Look forward to life changes and choose to take charge
Get up and move, do something other than stand still
Excuses are easy to acquire, but like cancer they can kill
Think of what you can accomplish and less of things out of reach
With your life experience, there is much you can teach
2) Shower Cry
The shower cry brings water mixed with tears
There is no one to witness the drowning fears
You stand beneath the water and release heartfelt hurts
Watching as they flow down the drain like washed-away dirt
The shower cry is not a site for the weak of heart
There's often a runny nose and deep emotional noise as the crier falls apart
The shower cry happens when all alone
Lasting until the need to cry is all but gone
The shower cry is intended to help ease the pain
Taking time to be rid of the built-up life stains
From day to day, when disappointments abide
The shower cry helps to put them aside
Start each day finding new joy to begin
Let the shower cry at night release any heavy burdens
The shower cry is to self-appease
Providing individual therapy that can take you to your knees
Shower cry ... It's okay
Take advantage at the end of each day
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About the Book
Randi Owens believes that poetry has the power to provide therapeutic relief from worries and stress. In a collection of poems penned over twenty years, Owens shares lyrical verse that teaches all of us that it is okay to be upset, smile, laugh, cry, and to simply embrace all that comes with living a full life.
Her poems begin in 1996 when Owens was venturing into midlife, focused on being a parent to four teenagers while juggling the demands of a career. She invites others to enter into the world of a woman willing to determine the outcome of her life without fear of the ending. Owens encourages others to reflect on their own thoughts and emotions while witnessing her joys and struggles as she adapted to her shifting role in family relationships and her ever-changing environment. Included in her poignant collection are original poems from each of her four adult children.
This … Is about Life shares a lyrical glimpse into one woman’s mid-life experiences as she approaches a new chapter with optimism, vulnerability, and hope.
About the Author
Writing began as a form of escape for Randi from her world of reality, allowing for self-expression while living in a foster home with biological siblings and several other foster children. Some poems were written without thought, while others were written as a form of communication without the element of verbal interaction on occasion. She joined the USAF upon graduation from high school, where she remained for 5 years receiving an Honorable discharge once her commitment was complete.
She received an Associates degree from Anchorage Community College, Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a Certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor from the College of Great Falls. Her professional career consisted of working as a Youth at Risk Program Manager, Chemical Dependency Counselor, and Licensed Professional Counselor among others. Her chosen careers permitted her access to another of her passions in addition to writing and poetry, that of offering care and service to individuals in need of therapeutic intervention. Randi has lived in Alaska for over 27 years with her husband of over 40 years and their four adult children and grandchildren.