In the 1970s I wrote a little whimsy essay called “DO IT.”  

I ran across it the other day while poring through a box of “Carole’s Writings,” and thought it to be good advice for starting any project... minor or major.

So, of course, it became a poem.

For the August 2025 poem of the Month, here is the new poem, based on my 1970s essay, “DO IT.”

Hope you like it… and remember this… whatever the question, love is always the answer.

DO IT

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act.”
(So said Amelia Earhart in 1935.)
“The rest,’ she said, “is merely tenacity.”
Once you take the first step, you’re more likely to arrive.

Putting things off until the timing is right
Is a bad habit. Another word for it is “procrastinate.”
ZIg Ziglar, a motivational speaker, once put it this way:
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
(The wisdom of an ancient Chinese sage.)
Your future is created by what you do today.
Don’t wait to begin your own pilgrimage.

The subject is timeless:
The slogan “Just Do It” was created for Nike in 1988, 
by their advertising company, (Wieden and Kennedy). 
Nike holds the trademark.

July 2025’s Poem of the Month, LIVE PURPOSEFULLY sounds like such an enormous assignment… one that only a noted spiritual person might hope to attain…

But, in reality, finding one’s purpose is open to us all!! And, the best way to find your purpose, and live it, is to find and follow your passion. Your passion will lead you to your purpose.

In the meantime, don’t lie, keep your word, don’t make promises you can’t, or have no intention to, keep…

… and Follow Your Dream! 

I hope you enjoy the poem. And… remember that whatever the question, the answer is always love.

LIVE PURPOSEFULLY

It’s said that a person without a purpose
Is like a ship without a rudder.
He might appear as if he’s going somewhere;
(The unknowing of his destination makes me shudder.)

Our lives are short. Our time is limited;
Finding a purpose is essential to do.
It’s not enough to have simply lived,
But to live for something. The onus is on you.

If your purpose grows dim, figure out your passion.
Your passion will lead you to your purpose in life…
A purpose to serve, not a lifestyle to live.
Don’t waste your time living someone else’s life.

Mark Twain said it best and, I think, summed it up
When he uttered these words (what a guy!):
“The two most important days in your life
Are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.”

“The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Picasso is credited with sharing this wisdom.
(What interesting art he put on display!)

If your path is hard it’s because your purpose
Is bigger than you thought.
Your purpose is not to maintain personal comfort;
It’s to grow your soul. Use what you’ve brought.

And finally, learn the words of the Dalai Lama:
“People take different roads seeking their own [perfection],
And just because they’re not on your road
They’re not lost, [but on their own path to their own selection]"

Problems arise now and then in our lives… at least, we call them “problems,” and after we have found resolution we can look back and see them as bumps in the road. I love hindsight. It’s always accurate.

Spring is usually a very busy time for me, and this year seems to be even more busy than past years. Of course, having another birthday may have something to do with not accomplishing things in a timely manner. There seems to be more things on the “to do” list… and less time to accomplish them..

So, I’m taking my own advice from the poem, and thinking things through a little better. I’m determining just how much I need to accomplish, and how much can wait its turn… really putting some good thought into it. Learning to prioritize is one of life’s important lessons, and it certainly makes problem solving easier.

You can do the same… Oh, and ease up on yourself. You’re terrific!!!!!

Remember, whatever the question, love is always the answer.

PROBLEM SOLVING

To clear the air about the subject of problem solving,
Some people think it takes a creative mind,,,
Know first of all that problem solving is not creating…
It’s picking up the pieces when the creation has misaligned.

If you keep talking on and on about your problems
They’ll likely increase, and not go away.
You need an objective approach to solve them.
Have an overview, and do not dismay.

If at first you do not succeed,
Then approach your problem with a new guideline.
“You cannot solve the problems with the same line of thinking
That created them.” — so says Einstein.

(There are the idle passersby who offer their two cents.
They wax on and on with the “perfect solution.”
When one doesn’t know much about the problem
It’s much easier to take a stab at the problem’s resolution.)

It’s said that a problem that is well-defined
Is a problem that is already half-solved.
You can’t fix a problem until you know what it is.
Define it correctly and it’s soon to be resolved.

Problems aren’t necessarily obstacles,
But opportunities for growth and for learning.
Tackle the root cause, not the effect.
Take your time, think it through. Be discerning.