Auld Lang Syne: Authenticity’s Refrain

Folder: 
Poems

 

 

In the fading light of auld lang syne, 

As resolutions gleam like gilded lies, 

The siren's song of comparison entwines, 

With hopes and dreams 'neath false disguise.

 

Chorus 1: 

For auld lang syne, let truth prevail, 

For auld lang syne, cast off the veil. 

Of curated lives and tales well-spun, 

Embrace your story, each battle won.


 

Through windswept braes of joy and pain, 

We wander, chasing shadows in the rain. 

Yearning to be more, to change, to grow, 

While blind to beauty, above, below.

 

 

Chorus 2: 

For auld lang syne, in silent spaces,

 Where scars and hopes etch lined faces. 

A spirit rises, fierce and bright, 

Beyond the boundaries of the night.


 

In the mirror's gaze, a fractured soul, 

Pieced by demands that take their toll. 

Authenticity locked away, 

Gathering dust day by day.

 

 

Chorus 3: 

For auld lang syne, each wound a story, 

Each struggle a song of battles gory. 

Broken yet unbroken, a fragile might, 

Transcending shadows, labyrinths of fright.


 

Yet in the echoes of our own heart's beat, 

A whisper rises, steady, small, and sweet. 

To march to our own rhythm, find our way, 

And dance to tunes that we alone can play.


 

Chorus 4: 

For auld lang syne, 'midst violence and pain, 

Where empathy struggles, but not in vain. 

Let respect prevail, all be celebrated, 

A future where love is not debated.


 

In this race of life, there's no compare, 

No scoreboard looming, no judgment there. 

The path is ours alone to find, 

With kindness, grit, and peace of mind.

 

Chorus 5: 

For auld lang syne, let connections mend, 

A mosaic of healing, hope to send. 

Each breath a rebellion, each moment a choice, 

Vulnerability as strength, silence as voice.

 


So let auld acquaintance fade away, 

With false ideals and goals that sway. 

Embrace the flawed and fabulous now, 

The perfectly imperfect, this we vow.

 

 

Chorus 6: 

For auld lang syne, transformation blooms, 

Where wounds once ached, now wisdom looms. 

Reclaim your story, honour the quest, 

A symphony of survival, unrepressed.

 

As auld lang syne dims out of sight, 

And new year dawns, a page so bright, 

May we write our tales with truth and might, 

Protagonists of our own light.

 

 

Final Chorus: 

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, 

We'll toast to authenticity's chime. 

And dance to our own rhythm and rhyme, 

Embracing all we are, for auld lang syne. 

Embracing all we are, for auld lang syne!

Author's Notes/Comments: 

This poem is a follow-up to a prose entry entitled "Slaying Goliath: Why Toxic Positivity and Inspiration Porn Need a Reality Check". |

 

The year 2024 has undoubtedly been challenging. A staggering 41% of employees worldwide are grappling with intense daily stress, and many are experiencing the consequences of toxic work cultures. It's no wonder we often feel the urge to escape. Social media constantly presents us with perfect highlight reels, which makes it even harder to avoid the comparison trap as we look ahead to the new year.

 

 


However, here's the truth: these curated snapshots do not show the complete picture. They fail to reveal that 77% of individuals are struggling with their physical health due to work-related stress, and nearly 40% are facing serious mental health challenges. Furthermore, they overlook the generational shift in attitudes toward work, as younger professionals increasingly feel pessimistic about their economic and social futures.

 

 


This year, let's rewrite our narrative. Let's break free from the pressure to conform and embrace New Year's resolutions, prioritising self-compassion over comparison. Imagine a year where you celebrate your unique journey, honour your struggles, and cultivate resilience amidst the chaos. This year, please prioritise your mental health and well-being, even as the world demands more from you. Because if you are not at your best, how can you give that to another?



Join me in exploring a new approach to New Year's resolutions - one that empowers you to escape the need to conform and embrace the authentic, wonderfully imperfect individual you are. Let's look for ways to cultivate genuine growth in an overwhelming world.

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