Love Unrealized by Angela Nichelle Bradley

photo by Nyuszika

When you look at me
I want you to see
the beautiful woman
you once had

The woman who gave you
all she had to offer of herself
and more

So much more

When you look at me
I want you to see the body
you held in your embrace

An embrace that forever changed my world

When you look at me I want you to see the tears

Hiding behind my eyelids

The tears are for me and my pain but they should be for you

You lost my love without realizing you were loved

Open your eyes,

See me -

See me walk away from you

Forever


~Dedicated to a very special friend~

Merry-go-round

I can't change you but I can change me

It's taken me awhile to get that

But now I see...

That no matter what I say

Or what I do

You hear me and still do you

And so we keep spinning 'round and 'round

So dizzy and sick

I can't see the ground

Don't try to get me

It just gets twisted

In fact the point I'm making now-

You've surely missed it

And so we keep spinning 'round and 'round

Can you hear the cracks splintering?

I can't take the sound

And I can't tell if it's me or you

Losing grip as we fall

I'm finally ready to admit

I feel like letting go

It's okay

Don't worry

I don't expect you to change

I just know I can't stay the same

I've finally decided that's it

I'm free

I can't change you but I can change me

By Angela Nichelle Bradley

Starting Over...

I hardly watch SNL but last Saturday, I saw the rerun of Jennifer Lopez hosting and I was moved by her second song, Starting Over. I listened to her sing those words and my heart clenched. Jlo answers the question: Why is it so hard to break up with someone who's all wrong for you? The reasons are endless from kids to pride but the bottom line is "nobody wants to be the one breaking up." It's true. We all want to love and be loved. Most of us will put up with junk and overlook the signs telling us things are going array instead of facing the reality of our relationships.

When do you know it's time to say goodbye? That's a hard question but the truth is most of us know it within ourselves long before we ask a friend for advice. I'm happily married now but I was involved with a guy I thought was one way and even when I knew I was wrong about him and our relationship, I still held on. I was convinced he would change or I'd change but one way or another we had to work. I didn't want to be alone. I didn't want to be the one breaking up and staying in that relationship cost me big time. Changed my life for what seemed at the time for the worst and even now I look back on my choices back then and cringe but now I see that bad relationship had a purpose.

Starting over is never easy and helps if you've got a friend or family to call and cry to but essentially the healing has to start on your own. No one can help you or hold your hand. You have to decide for yourself that starting over is the best thing to do and then step by step, day by day....do it.

~AN

Hear Jennifer Lopez sing the song Starting Over here!

(photo courtesy of Gendali)