The Uplifting Empire: Chris Rathje

fear is a bitch

fear is a bastard

fear is the crook that robs us blind

fear is small

LOVE IS BIG

Always choose love

Love conquers all fear in time

fear kills – it drives us mad

the other side is an ugly place

we choose!

love is everything

it heals all in time

all zeros can become ones

Love is Truth

Thank you

Chris

After drawn out health problems I am happy to report that the Uplifting Empire is up and running again.

If anyone would like to purchase a copy of the book Don’t Be Afraid To Eat Soup with a Fork please email chris.rathje@gmail.com

Print Copies: $20

Digital Copies: $5

Thank you, anything is possible

Chris

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
Share

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 [...]

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 [...]