This poem is for you, dear friend.
I stumbled upon it today, a timely reminder to follow your bliss… a call to action to live each day as the gift that it is… to be grateful for this one life.
Remain true to your path dear heart, be your beautiful, imperfect, authentic self.
Share your gifts with the world as nobody else will impart your message or create art in the way that you will. Don’t doubt yourself… release yourself from the grip of those who do and live fully and freely with a wide open heart.

We Have Not Come Here To Take Prisoners
by Hafiz
(translated by Daniel Ladinsky)

We have not come here to take prisoners
But to surrender ever more deeply
To freedom and joy.
We have not come into this exquisite world
to hold ourselves hostage from love.
Run my dear, From anything
That may not strengthen
Your precious budding wings,
Run like hell, my dear,
From anyone likely to put a sharp knife
Into the sacred, tender vision
Of your beautiful heart.
We have a duty to befriend
Those aspects of obedience of our house
And shout to our reason
“Oh please, oh please
come out and play.”
For we have not come here to take prisoners,
Or to confine our wondrous spirits
But to experience ever and ever more deeply
our divine courage, freedom, and Light!