“Every desire you have at it’s core exists because you think attaining it will make you happy; but happiness can only be attained in the present moment. Therefore, any desire you have to be happy in the future is blocking your ability to be happy now. Only when you are at peace with what is now, will you ever find happiness now.” 
~Jackson Kiddard

Rivers forever flowing homeward,
yet still do not wrinkle
submissive seas
Desires forever streaming
from the hopeful heart,
do not disturb the mindful spirit
Watchful awareness behind the thoughts,
becomes at once
the impartial witness
Noticing, observing inertly
streams of wants and wishes
carving canyons of craving
Lasciviously meandering
through barren lands,
the home of hungers
That dwell on these banks
to quench palpable
but insatiable thirst
The watcher retrieves the moment,
from the talons
of untidy thoughts.
Waiting for the tea to steep,
for clarity to rise from a murky heart,
where rivers of desire flow.
Copyright © Henri Ferguson 2005
 

Author notes

Life is relentlessly about decision making; “should I turn left or go straight, should I take this job or pass on it, do I really need this or do I merely want it”, and where does logic factor into that equation, etc. But when it comes to matters of the heart the waters are often murky. Logic seems conspicuously absent, our capricious and fickle wants and desires take our emotions on a whirlwind roller coaster experience that defies anything close to solid reasoning. The heart wants what the heart wants. These then are the times (my humble opinion) when we need to take a step back, wait for the winds to wind down, enjoy the exhilaration of the roller coaster but clarify our perceptions when we are back on solid ground, while standing on the banks where rivers of desire flow.
Written April 7th, 2005