Fred's Version of Haiku

I have written before how the type of Haiku I do sometimes helped me survive my divorce in 1994 and I was still writing a lot in this form even in 1999 when I almost died of a heart virus then (Fall of 1998 to May of 1999).

Psychologically, I found in a crisis when you are trying to survive that crisis in your life writing your own Haiku shuts out all the "White Noise" and you can get down to basics of what is going to keep you alive and going in your life.

Here is one I just thought of that reminds me of that time

Children

If you aren't there

They won't survive

At that time I had a 4 or 5 years old daughter and a biological son about 20 years old in 1994 and two step children older than that. So, I had decided to fast until I died in Ventana Wilderness because of this divorce on water only. So, I lasted 4 days until God came to me and said, "You are not important. However, your daughter's future is in your hands because your wife is in distress because of this divorce."

So, I filed for divorce in order to protect my 5 year old daughter and now she is 33 and married to a European Lawyer and they are very happy.

It isn't just about you

It's about those you need to care for

Becoming adult I found started when i was 26 and I got married because my girlfriend got pregnant and I needed to support them. So, I dropped out of a College program where I was becoming a psychologist and got a full time job to support my wife and child.

This then was the best thing I ever did not only for my wife and son but also for myself. Why?

Because I never really was interested in caring for myself but I always wanted to be a father and be in my children's lives. This was always what I wanted. And for me, marriage allowed me to be with my children and to raise them. At the time I believed that all the happiness of childhood I could relive through my children because I always found adults pretty boring compared to happy children playing.

Becoming a father literally saved my young life and has ever since (caring for others who needed me).

Caring for yourself

Is necessary

if you want to be alive

to care for others

This was one of the most powerful lessens of young adulthood for me.

Life was not really about me at all it was about caring for others.

This was one of my first keys to full enlightenment.

So, be kind to yourselves so you can be kind to others to keep them alive and happy.