I pick up the remote control,
the coolest game I ever played.

I played and I played and I played.
5pm rolls by,
7pm rolls on,
10pm ticks on the clock,
it is now 2 am.

My fingers feel week and tired,
but the game must play on,
because the next level is near.

Restless eyes is finally asleep,
only to wake to a scream and a shout,
there they go again,
the name calling,
the blameing,
even broken things.

I cant stop it,
I try to love them,
I try to hug them,
but they ignore,
snap,
even blame me for thier mistake.

so I turn to my game,
where it is safe from them,
it shuts out the noise,
and the yells outside my door.

I pick up my remote,
and play until dawn.

As years go by,
I no longer use a remote,
I no longer turn to games.

I learned that I control who I am,
I learned to turn the TV off,
go outside,
and bring myself to the real world.

I place my phone down,
and cheer a soul,
by saying hello,
making a friend.

I decided to escape the game,
away from illusions,
and hidden secrets within my soul.

I push the button,
that stops the game,
then go to those who may be stuck on a level,
a level of dispair and pain.
That one level we cant seem to get past,
that level that brings frustrations,
sometimes anger,
wishing we could just beat that one level,
then things would be better.

I put down my phone,
to hug my friend,
to be a listening ear,
with my eyes on them.

I put down the remote,
to play with my kids,
and leave distractions of a unloved world,
to be part of a love unexplained.

I want to show my kids,
that life,
its exploreing,
discovering,
and learning what we can do,
that can make a difference,
in the real world,
where we can see our progress,
and what we are capable of doing,
we are talented, amazing human beings!

All of us have levels we need to beat,
some are in levels harder to beat.

Look up,
Look up and reach out,
make a difference,
in the real world.

Take the hardest level of all,
except the challenge,
to see your worth,
to see what you can accomplish,
to see that there is more to the world,
that their is more to you...
and me.

Let us all,
full fill our dreams,
in a world,
where when we create,
fight,
race,
or upgrade,
that it can bring real change,
that it can be a fight worth fighting,
or a race that beats our hearts,
with excitement,
because what we've done was real.

Be the one,
to put down the phone,
or the remote,
Step outside,
and see what YOU are made of.

I garentee you will be surprised,

no more hiding,
no more fears buried alive,
glorious work,
is waiting for you,
to show,
to teach you,
that you are gifted.
Discover your gift,
that brings real joy.
that gift thats buried inside,
waiting to go to the next level,
deep within your soul.


Speaking from one who knows,
and experienced levels of all kinds,
from easy to difficult.

I stepped outside,
discovered who I am,
never to regret,
all I've done,
mistakes and all.

Go...

Go discover you!





© shelley