Post No. 204: We Are At War With Each Other Because...We Are At War With Ourselves

(Image from PictureQuotes)

We Are At War With Each Other Because...
(Or, "We Are At War With Ourselves")

We
Are
At
War
With
Each
Other,
Because
We
Are
At
War
With
Ourselves.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Turning Your Enemy Into A Friend: The best way to "get rid of your sworn enemy" is to "turn your enemy into a friend." –Paul Whiting (written March 23rd, 2014 and revised August 31st, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Your Enemy: Your enemy is your fear! –Paul Whiting (written September 16th, 2015 and revised July 26th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About The Reason We Are At War With Each Other: We are at war with each other, because we are at war with ourselves. –Paul Whiting (written May 10th, 2016 and revised August 19th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About How The Conflicts Across From Us Are The Conflicts Within Us: The conflicts that we are fighting with those who are across from us are the same conflicts that we are fighting within our own consciousness. In other words, the conflicts that are across from us are the conflicts within us. –Paul Whiting (written approximately on May 10th, 2016 and turned into 'my writing' from my notes on May 11th, 2024)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: What the phrase "We are at war with each other, because we are at war with ourselves" means to me is this: the conflicts that we are fighting with those who are across from us are the same conflicts that we are fighting within our own consciousness. In other words, the conflicts that are across from us are the conflicts within us.

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 204 was edited on March 19th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 203: Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Every Lifetime Has
A Cross To Bear

Every lifetime has a cross to bear!
In other words, every soul has a cross
to bear—in each and every lifetime—
and some have more than one!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About A Cross To Bear For Every Lifetime: Every lifetime has a cross to bear! –Paul Whiting (written June 26th, 2015 and revised October 7th, 2022)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About A Cross To Bear For Every Soul: Every soul has a cross to bear—and some have more than one! –Paul Whiting (written April 29th, 2016 and revised October 7th, 2022)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About My Blogs Being Sabotaged By Someone Who Is Very 'Tech Savvy,' Regarding The Blog Post "Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear" [September 21st, 2021 Update]:

I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the blog post "Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear" not appearing on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

And, even though I can see it on the Blogger Dashboard, and I can go to that post directly, it appears as if I never published that particular blog post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

So, I provided a hyperlink to the blog post "Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear" from the aforementioned blog on my "Small All White in the Forest," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. (Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts.) You see, I am afraid of having that post appear as if it is not, in fact, published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog—and that is why I provided a hyperlink. (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)

–Paul Whiting (written September 21st, 2021, revised July 28th, 2022, revised July 29th, 2022 and revised February 18th, 2023)

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2016/04/every-lifetime-has-cross-to-bear.html

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-oneness-of-god-every-lifetime-has.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/04/for-easter-weekend-part-1-every.html

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2015/06/every-lifetime-has-cross-to-bear.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: Every lifetime has a cross to bear! In other words, every soul has a cross to bear—in each and every lifetime—and some have more than one!

What inspired this poem are the difficulties that I have dealt with in life, including having a truly dysfunctional childhood, since I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("The Mormon Church") and the various health challenges that I have dealt with, including issues with spiritual health, mental health and physical health (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS) all of which were based upon My Karma!

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------

September 21st, 2021 Update [My Writing About My Blogs Being Sabotaged By Someone Who Is Very 'Tech Savvy,' Regarding The Blog Post "Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear"]:

I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the blog post "Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear" not appearing on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

And, even though I can see it on the Blogger Dashboard, and I can go to that post directly, it appears as if I never published that particular blog post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

So, I provided a hyperlink to the blog post "Every Lifetime Has A Cross To Bear" from the aforementioned blog on my "Small All White in the Forest," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. (Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts.) You see, I am afraid of having that post appear as if it is not, in fact, published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog—and that is why I provided a hyperlink. (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)

–Paul Whiting (written September 21st, 2021, revised July 28th, 2022, revised July 29th, 2022 and revised February 18th, 2023)

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2016/04/every-lifetime-has-cross-to-bear.html

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-oneness-of-god-every-lifetime-has.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/04/for-easter-weekend-part-1-every.html

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2015/06/every-lifetime-has-cross-to-bear.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 203 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 202: 'Your Enemy Is Your Fear!'

(Image from We Heart It)

'Your Enemy Is Your Fear!'

The challenge isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the challenge
that is your enemy!

The change isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the change
that is your enemy!

The burden isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the burden
that is your enemy!

The risk isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the risk
that is your enemy!

The failure isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the failure
that is your enemy!

The work isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the work
that is your enemy!

The rework isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the rework
that is your enemy!

The drudgery isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the drudgery
that is your enemy!

The breakdown isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the breakdown
that is your enemy!

The repair isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the repair
that is your enemy!

The change isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the change
that is your enemy!

The challenge isn't your enemy;
it is your fear of the challenge
that is your enemy!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Facing And Erasing Your Fears: If you face your fears, you will erase your fears... –Paul Whiting (written approximately on May 31st, 2012 and turned into 'my writing' on July 22nd, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About The Only Thing Preventing You From Being Happy: The only thing preventing you from being happy is you NOT facing your fear! –Paul Whiting (written September 18th, 2014, revised October 3rd, 2014, revised March 17th, 2015 and revised July 26th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Transforming Fear Energy: If you face a fear—you transform the energy—and you never have to be burdened by that fear in the same way again. –Paul Whiting (written March 28th, 2015, revised June 22nd, 2022 and revised July 26th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Your Enemy: Your enemy is your fear! –Paul Whiting (written September 16th, 2015 and revised July 26th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Not Throwing Away Your Enemy, But Throwing Away Your Fear Of Your Enemy: You do need to "throw away" your enemy: it is the fear of your enemy—by facing your fear—that you need to "throw away." –Paul Whiting (written December 2nd, 2015 and July 26th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Freedom From Fear: Happiness is freedom from fear! –Paul Whiting (written January 23rd, 2016 and revised July 26th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: 'Your Enemy Is Your Fear!'

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 202 was edited on March 19th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 201: God's Eternal Plan Of Salvation!

(Image from All For Desktop)

God's Eternal Plan Of Salvation!

God's Eternal Plan Of Salvation,
For Every Soul, Is To Evolve Out Of
Literal Non-Existence—Or, Literally
Nothing—Literally Forever!

...Because Literal Non-Existence—Or,
Literally Nothing—Is What We All Are:
So, Evolving Out Of Non-Existence Is
A Continuous Effort And That Is
"God's Eternal Plan Of Salvation!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About God's Eternal Plan To Evolve Out Of Literally Nothing: God's Eternal Plan Of Salvation, for every soul, is to evolve out of literal non-existence—or Literally Nothing—literally forever! –Paul Whiting (written March 20th, 2016, revised March 21st, 2016, revised June 20th, 2022 and revised October 11th, 2022)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I originally thought of the idea for this poem on St. Patrick's Day 2016—and I even published a post for it on that day in preparation for writing a poem to go along with the post, which I finally got around to writing on March 20th, 2016—but, then, I realized that I had decided to stop posting for holidays and special occasions.

You see, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion.

Plus, I also wanted this poem to have more of a "universal appeal" and to not be focused on just one holiday or special occasion... Therefore, I decided to republish this post on March 21st (as in the phrase "3...2...1...Nothing!"), and at 1:23 AM (as in the phrase "1...2...3...Everything!"), because Literal Non-Existence—or, Literally Nothing—is what we all are: So, evolving out of Non-Existence is a continuous effort and that is "God's Eternal Plan Of Salvation!"

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 201 was edited on March 21st, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 200: A Body's Life Is Temporary

(Image by Paul Whiting)

A Body's Life Is Temporary

I know that my human body,
just like every other body, is
not going to live forever, but
my soul, just like every other
soul, is going to live forever!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About A Body's Life And A Soul's Life: A body's life is temporary! A soul's life is eternal! –Paul Whiting (written August 5th, 2015 and revised October 10th, 2022)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Getting Ready To Die [October 10th, 2015 Update]: I am only planning on doing a limited amount of new writing, since I think that I am getting ready to die, because I am tired most of the time! Thus, I think that after being HIV-positive for so long that I am not going to be here much longer... (I was diagnosed in November of 2000.) So, I am planning to only work on my personal care (that is, my day-to-day living) and my civic duty (that is, participating in upcoming elections by voting, including 'special elections'). Plus, I am taking the time to reread, edit and revise my blogs ('writing is revising'), so that I can correct all the mistakes that I have made in my existing writing!

–Paul Whiting (written October 10th, 2015, revised November 3rd, 2015, revised November 5th, 2015, revised November 10th, 2015, revised November 21st, 2015, revised November 24th, 2015, revised December 10th, 2015, revised December 29th, 2015, revised August 3rd, 2021, revised August 27th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023 and revised April 1st, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'my writing,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'my writings' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About Still Being Alive [August 3rd, 2021 Update]: I am still alive! And I am feeling a lot better than I was feeling—a couple of months short of exactly six years ago—when I wrote my 'October 10th, 2015 Update' (that also appears as 'My Writing About Getting Ready To Die' on some of my blogs), which can be found above. Plus, I have a smartphone again, after years of only having a basic phone. So, I am editing all of my blogs, but I am still preparing for death—especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I received my very first COVID-19 vaccine on June 25th, 2021, and I am now fully vaccinated for COVID-19, so there is still hope.

–Paul Whiting (written August 3rd, 2021, revised September 28th, 2021, revised June 15th, 2022, revised August 27th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023, revised June 8th, 2023 and revised April 1st, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'my writing,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'my writings' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Writing About My Blogs Being Sabotaged By Someone Who Is Very 'Tech Savvy,' Regarding The Blog Post "A Body's Life Is Temporary" [October 15th, 2021 Update]:

I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the blog post "A Body's Life Is Temporary" not appearing on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

And I cannot even see it on the Blogger Dashboard, but I can go to that post directly—since the post title is listed in the labels—however, it appears as if I never published that particular blog post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog.

So, I provided a hyperlink to the blog post "A Body's Life Is Temporary" from the aforementioned blog on my "Small All White in the Forest," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. (Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts.) You see, I am afraid of having that post appear as if it is not, in fact, published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog—and that is why I provided a hyperlink. (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)

–Paul Whiting (written October 15th, 2021, revised July 28th, 2022, revised July 29th, 2022 and revised February 18th, 2023)

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-bodys-life-is-temporary.html

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-oneness-of-god-bodys-life-is.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/04/for-easter-weekend-part-2-bodys-life-is.html

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-bodys-life-is-temporary.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: What inspired this poem is my impending death, because I know that my human body, just like every other body, is not going to live forever (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS), but my soul, just like every other soul, is going to live forever!

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------

October 10th, 2015 Update [My Writing About Getting Ready To Die]: I am only planning on doing a limited amount of new writing, since I think that I am getting ready to die, because I am tired most of the time! Thus, I think that after being HIV-positive for so long that I am not going to be here much longer... (I was diagnosed in November of 2000.) So, I am planning to only work on my personal care (that is, my day-to-day living) and my civic duty (that is, participating in upcoming elections by voting, including 'special elections'). Plus, I am taking the time to reread, edit and revise my blogs ('writing is revising'), so that I can correct all the mistakes that I have made in my existing writing!

–Paul Whiting (written October 10th, 2015, revised November 3rd, 2015, revised November 5th, 2015, revised November 10th, 2015, revised November 21st, 2015, revised November 24th, 2015, revised December 10th, 2015, revised December 29th, 2015, revised August 3rd, 2021, revised August 27th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023 and revised April 1st, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

August 3rd, 2021 Update [My Writing About Still Being Alive]: I am still alive! And I am feeling a lot better than I was feeling—a couple of months short of exactly six years ago—when I wrote my 'October 10th, 2015 Update' (that also appears as 'My Writing About Getting Ready To Die' on some of my blogs), which can be found above. Plus, I have a smartphone again, after years of only having a basic phone. So, I am editing all of my blogs, but I am still preparing for death—especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I received my very first COVID-19 vaccine on June 25th, 2021, and I am now fully vaccinated for COVID-19, so there is still hope.

–Paul Whiting (written August 3rd, 2021, revised September 28th, 2021, revised June 15th, 2022, revised August 27th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023, revised June 8th, 2023 and revised April 1st, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

October 15th, 2021 Update [My Writing About My Blogs Being Sabotaged By Someone Who Is Very 'Tech Savvy,' Regarding The Blog Post "A Body's Life Is Temporary"]:

I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the blog post "A Body's Life Is Temporary" not appearing on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

And I cannot even see it on the Blogger Dashboard, but I can go to that post directly—since the post title is listed in the labels—however, it appears as if I never published that particular blog post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog.

So, I provided a hyperlink to the blog post "A Body's Life Is Temporary" from the aforementioned blog on my "Small All White in the Forest," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. (Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts.) You see, I am afraid of having that post appear as if it is not, in fact, published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog—and that is why I provided a hyperlink. (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)

–Paul Whiting (written October 15th, 2021, revised July 28th, 2022, revised July 29th, 2022, revised February 18th, 2023 and revised February 18th, 2023)

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-bodys-life-is-temporary.html

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-oneness-of-god-bodys-life-is.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/04/for-easter-weekend-part-2-bodys-life-is.html

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-bodys-life-is-temporary.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 200 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 199: For Father's Day 2015 — "A Happy Father's Day!"

Image from Real Skate Stories

A Happy Father's Day!
(Or, "With Arms Wide Open")

I Just Want To
Wish You "A Happy Father's Day!"
I Just Want To
Walk So Tall In Your Honest Way!
I Just Want To
Be As Generous As You Were Hoping!
I Just Want To
Live, Like You Do, "With Arms Wide Open!"
I Just Want To
Be As Unconditional As You So Lovingly Are!
I Just Want To
Wish Becoming As Bright Of A 'Night Star!'
I Just Want To
Say "Bless You" For Never Giving Up!
I Just Want To
Say "Thank You" For Raising Me Up!
I Just Want To
Be So Strong In Your Gentle Way!
I Just Want To
Say, "Happy Father's Day!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem is a reworking of a poem that I wrote for the 100th Anniversary of Father's Day, which was in 2010.

So, I decided to rework that poem and publish it this year, 2015, because I started blogging after the 100th Anniversary of Mother's Day, which was in 2008, so I was unable to publish a poem for the same anniversary of Mother's Day as Father's Day!

And since I did not get a chance to publish a poem for the 100th Anniversary of Mother's Day, I decided to delete the post for the 100th Anniversary of Father's Day and publish a poem for both Mother's Day and Father's Day the same year.

Plus, this poem is also inspired by the song "With Arms Wide Open," which is performed by the band Creed, and was written by Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti from Creed. (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.)

And this poem was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Watch "Creed - With Arms Wide Open" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/99j0zLuNhi8

-------------------------------------------------------------------

June 19th, 2022 Update, Written On June 18th, 2022: Happy Father's Day, everyone! I signed a Father’s Day card to military dads around the world from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, June 18th, 2022, that I received via an email yesterday, June 17th, 2022, which stated the following:

Paul,

As a veteran and a father, I know how challenging Father's Day can be for military dads. Many of them are stationed far away from their families, sometimes missing their kids' first words and steps. They can't be at precious events like summer baseball games, graduations and dance recitals. It's not easy.

Military dads sacrifice so much to serve their country and keep us safe at home. We need to make sure they feel appreciated on Father's Day, so we set a goal to get 25,000 signatures on our card honoring military dads. We can't fill up this card without your help, so please sign our Father's Day card honoring military dads now.

[Please see the hyperlink below for the card.]***

During my time in the U.S. Air Force, I spent many holidays away from home. Signing a card may not seem like a lot, but trust me, any time I got a reminder that folks back home were thinking about us, it meant so much. That's why I'm asking for your help today in giving our service members that same support and encouragement.

Please, we need to get 25,000 signatures before Father's Day — and it's only two days away. Will you add your name now to help fill up the card?

Thank you for helping make Father's Day special for American heroes!

[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to military dads, "Happy Father’s Day. We so appreciate all the sacrifices you and your family make every day in service of our country and the freedoms we all enjoy. Thank you."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written June 18th, 2022, revised June 19th, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised December 26th, 2022, revised December 29th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023 revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised June 14th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised November 18th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

-------------------------------------------------------------------

June 18th, 2023 Update: Happy Father's Day, everyone! I signed a Father’s Day card to military dads around the world from the USO (United Service Organizations) website today, June 18th, 2023:

This Father’s Day, help us honor dads who serve. Choose from our list, or write something from your heart.

Thus, I chose to send a link to my poem "A Happy Father's Day!" from my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, as follows:

A Happy Father's Day! (Or, "With Arms Wide Open")

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2015/06/for-fathers-day-happy-fathers-day.html

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to military fathers:

A Happy Father's Day!
(Or, "With Arms Wide Open")

I Just Want To
Wish You "A Happy Father's Day!"
I Just Want To
Walk So Tall In Your Honest Way!
I Just Want To
Be As Generous As You Were Hoping!
I Just Want To
Live, Like You Do, "With Arms Wide Open!"
I Just Want To
Be As Unconditional As You So Lovingly Are!
I Just Want To
Wish Becoming As Bright Of A 'Night Star!'
I Just Want To
Say "Bless You" For Never Giving Up!
I Just Want To
Say "Thank You" For Raising Me Up!
I Just Want To
Be So Strong In Your Gentle Way!
I Just Want To
Say, "Happy Father's Day!"

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month! –Paul Whiting (written June 18th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised July 31st, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised November 18th, 2023)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

June 16th, 2024 Update No. 1: Happy Father's Day, everyone! In celebration of Father's Day, I did a Google search for "Father's Day USO" and found the following USO (United Service Organizations) search result regarding Father's Day:

United Service Organizations

Celebrate Military Dads!

This Father's Day, help us honor dads who serve. Choose from our list, or write something from your heart. Select Message ...

And, after I read the search results above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:

★★★USO★★★

12,000 signatures needed to hit our goal!

→→→→→4,809

This Father's Day, help us honor dads who serve. Choose from our list, or write something from your heart.

Select Message:

[  ] I'm grateful to all military fathers!

[✓] Happy Father's Day, military dad!

[  ] Thanks for being a dad, and a hero!

[  ] I support military dads!

[  ] Military dads rock!

[  ] Write Your Own Message

Sincerely,

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email: [redacted]

SIGN THE CARD

---------------------------------------------

Thanks for signing the card! Will you take a few minutes to complete a quick survey about supporting all of our nation's heroes?

From scorching deserts in Iraqi summers to frozen mountaintops in Afghan winters, our troops endure harsh conditions to keep folks like us safe. How important is it to you to support our service members deployed far from home?

[✓] Extremely important
[  ] Very important
[  ] Somewhat important
[  ] Not at all important

The USO gives our service members the support they need to keep their spirits up, from phone calls home to A- list entertainment. Do you think it's important to keep troops' morale high by letting them know patriotic Americans back home stand with them?

[✓] Yes
[  ] No

Hundreds of thousands of service members are currently deployed overseas, putting themselves in harm's way in dangerous combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. Have you or a family member or friend ever served in the military?

[✓] Yes
[  ] No

Our service members make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, missing special moments like the first day of school or a baby's first steps while deployed far from home. How important do you think it is to help our troops stay connected to family back home during deployment?

[✓] Extremely important
[  ] Important
[  ] Somewhat important
[  ] Not at all important

A Navy lieutenant commander recently told us that USO Care Packages are a "constant reminder to those of us out 'in the sandbox' that we are not forgotten and folks back home actually care."

Now, as we work to deliver our brave service members a touch of home, we need to ask for your support.

It takes a lot of time, coordination and money to get our care packages to more than 175,000 service members who are away from their families, sacrificing so much defending our freedoms. The USO is not a government agency — we rely on the generosity and patriotism of citizens like you.

Help us make sure that we have the resources to support our troops. Will you please donate by MIDNIGHT tonight to send a little bit of home to our service members and show them how thankful you are?

[✓] Yes, I'll donate $25!*
[  ] Yes, I'll donate $50!
[  ] Yes, I'll donate $75!
[  ] No, I don't want to donate to support our service members today.

*[Blogger's Note: I selected this option—although I donated less than $25—because it's an option that got me to the donation webpage!]

---------------------------------------------

Support America's Service Members!

For more than 30 years, has been the USO's mission to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families. But we're not a govemment agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members.

Donate today so we can continue to provide individualized support to our service members every day.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

[  ] $25
[  ] $50
[  ] $75
[  ] $100
[  ] $250
[✓] $ 10.00

And so, I signed the USO Father's Day card in order to "honor dads who serve." Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our military dads, "Happy Father's Day, military dad!"

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (June 16th, 2024)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form]: Due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in any way, shape or form, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, and no longer sending letters to my Representative and Senators in Congress, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know it will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop!

P.S.: It's July 31st, 2025, and I feel like I need to provide an addendum (that is, "an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something") to this November 6th, 2024 'update!'

You see, a couple of days ago, on July 29th, 2025, I copied the text of this update to use as my reason for unsubscribing from a particular political email that I received that same day!

And so, I actually bothered to read this update—in order to verify that it made sense for me to use as a response to the request on this political email's unsubscribe page which stated, "Please tell us why you are leaving"—during which I realized there was a typo (that is, 'a typographical error') in the text of the update, as I have highlighted below, with the correction in brackets:

"And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know [it] will be over!"

Thus, I accidentally left out the word "it" in the sentence above. Hence, I corrected said typo on July 29th, the verification of which can be seen reflected in the addition of the date "revised July 29th, 2025" after my name.

However, as I got to thinking about the fact that I had originally said I may not be voting in any upcoming elections, I realized that, in fact, I did vote in Portland Oregon's Multnomah County Special District Election on May 20th, 2025, just like I usually do! [I always vote in every election (even 'special elections') and I always vote Democrat, which is why I was worried about voting in any upcoming elections given President Trump's clear disdain for Democrats.]

Therefore, I decided to write this "P.S." today, July 31st, as a way to clarify that I am still voting in elections (even 'special elections'), it's just that I am no longer engaging in any 'Online Activism,' during Trump's Presidency, as I explained in great detail above. (I hope that makes sense!)

–Paul Whiting (written November 6th, 2024, revised November 7th, 2024, revised July 29th, 2025 and revised July 31st, 2025)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 199 was edited on July 31st, 2025.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 198: For The Summer Solstice — The Call Of The God Apollo

Image from Cassie Ocken

The Call Of The God Apollo
(Or, "The Call Of An Everyday Hero")

The God Apollo Is "An Everyday Hero,"
Because—Every Day—The God Apollo Lets
His Soul Shine, So That There Can Be Life!

And So, The Call Of The God Apollo Is
"The Call Of An Everyday Hero"—To Let
Your Soul Shine, So That There Can Be Life!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in The Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem because I realized that I had already written poems for both The Goddess Gaia (The Earth) and The Goddess Luna (The Moon)—which are the two closest Heavenly Bodies in Our Solar System—but I had not yet written a poem for The God Apollo (The Sun).

And in the year 2015, the Summer Solstice and Father's Day are on the same day, which I truly feel is symbolic since all males—and especially fathers—are like the sun in the sky!

And this poem was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 198 was edited on April 15th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]