An interesting story poem I came across today. I think it’s a great way of making a point we all know deep down in our hearts, but sometimes fall victim to anyway. Worth the read.

The Wong Song

Once upon a time there was a man named Wong.
He blamed the world when things went wrong.
If things didn’t happen the way he thought they should,
he’d cuss and he’d curse and say, “If only they would…”
“If only They would do this or do that,
then my life would be better, and that would be that.”
They was his neighbor, his dog, and his wife,
His boss, his kids, everyone in his life.
They was his parents who were long dead and gone.
They was anyone, except for Wong.
They was the government, They was his job,
They was the traffic and his friend named Bob.
It really didn’t matter Who or What was They,
“If Only They’d change,” is what he would say…
“If only They would do this or do that,
then my life would be better and that would be that!”

Poor Wong would sing his “If Only Blues.”
He’d whine and complain and justify, too.
His song of woe droned on each day.
“Poor, pitiful me,” is what he would say.
“Ain’t life awful. Ain’t life sad.
It’s not my fault that my life’s so bad.
If only They would do this or do that,
then my life would be better and that would be that!”
Poor, pitiful Wong was stuck in his rut,
and there he sat on his most comfortable butt,
playing the victim and singing his song,
and blaming the world that had done him wrong.
Well, poor, pitiful Wong would still be stuck,
if he hadn’t been hit by that passing Mack truck.
It was out of control when it ran into his rut,
and shoved him right off his most comfortable butt.
He was shocked and surprised, but not really hurt –
a few scrapes and some bruises and a tad bit of dirt.
“If only that truck had not…” he immediately stopped,
For into his head a new thought had popped.

“If that truck hadn’t hit me, I would still be stuck,
sitting in my rut on my most comfortable butt.
But I’m out of that rut now and I feel so free.
It’s a whole new world of possi-bi-li-ties.
I’ve been a prisoner but now I see,
That how I look at life is my key to be free.”
It was never about Them, this is all about me,
and living from a place of response-a-bi-li-ty.”
They were never at fault. Oh, what a shame,
I was caught up so long in that crazy blame game.

He saw what a noose his old mindset had been,
and wished he could go back and start all over again.
But it was what it was, no reason to whine,
regretting the past would be a pure waste of time.
With excitement he let go of that life-sucking noose,
and wondered, “What’s possible now that it’s loose?”
He could see clearly now, as clear as can be.
He thought, “My life is my choice. It’s all up to me.
I can do what I want, whatever I choose.”
To Wong this was just the most incredible news.
He noticed the tune had changed in his head.
The beat had changed and his small voice said,
“Now I can do this and I can do that,
and my life will be better and that will be that!”

Life shows up just as sure as can be.
It just is what it is – good, bad or ugly!
We can be a victim to life’s circumstance,
Or see it differently and take a chance.
The moral of the story of this man named Wong,
is your life is your choice, you pick your own Song.
You can sing the blues and berate your fate,
or change your tune, it’s never too late!
Think what you will, think what you might,
When it’s all said and done, this Wong was right!

By: Marcia Jameson (August, 2002)