The Uplifting Empire: Chris Rathje

What does it mean to fly?

Is it freedom or is it fear?
Is it scary or is it sound?

Does it count if you are the only one who knows you are flying?

What is poetry?

Who defines the parameters?

The critics?
The artist?
Someone in between the two?

We will have to wait and see:
Which poems will soar through the air?
Which poems will stay grounded forever?

Stay thoughtful
Stay peaceful
Enjoy

Find the songs that bring you the most joy and take flight

When your feet move upward toward the sky just say a little prayer and the rest will take care of itself.

Love Life
Think Hard
Laugh Harder

Anything is Possible!
Chris

Thanks to Selina for the inspiration for this poem!

Patience
Persistence
Inspiration
Prayer

These are four horsemen to a great life.
We’re so blessed, but sometimes life is so hard.

Just take the time to love one another.
Guilt and shame hold us back.

Give guilt and shame a big middle finger and tell them Chris Rathje sent you.

I used to always struggle with the phrase,  my best.

I would ask what does that mean?

If I’m honest with myself;  it’s easy to figure out.

Ask Questions;  Get Answers

The process is not always easy, but it’s worth it.

Search for things you love.
Not all who wander are lost

We all start out as stones, but only those who embrace the challenging sand become pearls.

Embrace the grit. Choose to be an elegant orb on our infinite strand.

Odd inflection at the end of a line makes us our best.

AIP (check glossary if you need more clarity)

Chris

Here is a list of words and phrases I want to squash accompanied with alternatives.

Hopeless Romantic
Hopeful Romantic

Nice Guys Always Finish Last
Nice Guys Sometimes Finish Last

Gym Tan Laundry
Always Be Learning

Love, Laugh, Learn!

Believe in Dreams!
Chris

Energy can be the flow
Energy can also be the stifle, the block, the confusion

Wait!

Who chooses the energy?
We do!
How?
With what we think
With what we do
Choose with care
Choose with purpose

Thoughtful is a beautiful word
A word full of freedom

We are free to think whatever we want!
Use that power with joy
Use that power with responsibility

KNOW ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Do you have that energy?
Do you want that energy?

It’s up to you!

Grab it now and hold it as long as possible

No energy is constant, but they go around in circles. The energy will come back when everything is aligned.

Believe in the circles of life and let the energy you desire flow into you.

Love everything
Love everyone

Thanks for reading
Chris

We must look within to find what we need, what we want, and how we will form our lives.
We must venture outside to truly grow.  Please let love be your guide!
Fear is a liar
Fear is a cheat
Fear robs so many of so much
To live a fearless life is not the goal.
Look fear in the eye [...]

Who gets to decide when the moon is beautiful?
Is the moon beautiful when it is full?
Is the moon beautiful when the sky is clear?
Is the moon beautiful when we can’t see it?
Who decides?
We all do!
We all have our truths.
We all have our perspectives.
Let our hearts sing even if the melodies are full of pain and [...]

(This piece is dedicated to the creative team behind Lady Antebellum’s American Honey.  I listened to the song on a loop while I was writing this and the song is the original inspiration for the piece.)
Sometimes fear protects us from danger
Sometimes fear is a tool to align the proper path
But most of the time fear [...]

The struggle is interesting
It gives us character
It gives us color
People don’t hold us back
Circumstances don’t hold us back
fear holds us back
acceptance of fear
acceptance of lack
acceptance of limits
A smile can emanate no matter what surrounds us
The sun is always shining no matter how many clouds there appears to be in the sky
Believe in light
Light is the [...]

What do I have to say?
It is clear as day, but the words don’t always want to come out and play.
Don’t fear words, always use them to your advantage. Be clear, be precise, be honest, win!
Life is beautiful, life is simple, but not always straightforward.
I cry when others give up
I rejoice when [...]