Heartsongs

I would like to donate today's post to a very special little guy who managed to touch more hearts then he himself is aware of in the little time he had on earth.

Mattie Stepanek was born with an illness called Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy which interrupts automatic body functions and is a terminal illness at an early age. Mattie on the other hand was strong in spirit and wouldn't give up that easily and except that death was upon him. He didn't wait around for it, he made the most out of the time he had and he died at the age of 14. In his 14 short years he published seven books of his own poems; he met and became close friends with a number of great ppl including Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Carter and Larry King. What made Mattie so special they say is that he knew that every day was a gift and he knew he was living on borrowed time and that his opportunity to make a difference was this very moment, because he might not get the chance tomorrow. And he sure did. His motto was: Think gently, speak gently, live gently.

I've read all of Mattie's poems and I've had to dry my tears more than once. To be filled with so much insight, reflection and wisdom is rare in itself, and unique when you're seeing the world from the eyes of a little boy who so intensely wants us to be able to live in a better world he knows he won't be able to be a part of much longer. Of all the wonderfully magnificent poems he's written, this is my favorite:

Momentous Reality

The next century, the next millennium

Is being made, now, Today, each

second.

We could be working towards

World peace, living as one spirit.

Or, we could be working towards

Disaster, chemical and nuclear

wars.

The harmony, and existence of

the future

Depends on the harmony and

existence

Of each individual here, today.

We must be brave going into the

future.

We must remember to play after

each storm.

We must not live in fear of bad

things

Blocking our way or overcoming

our optimism.

If we can work together to face

the future,

If we can unite as one,

The our future will look, and be,

very bright.

Even though the future seems far

away,

It is actually beginning right now.

And while we are living in the

present,

We must celebrate life everyday,

Knowing that we are becoming

history

With every word, every action, every

moment.

Because we, today, are the history

of tomorrow,

We must ask ourselves each day

What we are doing that may have

An influence on the future.

It really won't be for many years that

The future will indicate if something

we said,

Or if something we did or did not do,

Had an impact on a single individual,

Or if it tickled out to touch the

whole world.

February 2000

- Mattie Stepanek

When asked how he would want to be remembered, he always answered: As a "Poet, Peacemaker, and Philosopher Who Played." And he is. Rest in peace little guy and thank you for the heartprints.

I always remember to play after every storm

http://www.mattieonline.com/