kindness is free

when you stop and think, “am I going to cut the tv on this morning?” knowing the news is not good. Or not cutting it on, and cutting music on instead. Keeping “the news” out of your life, is an option always, then again, to take that option, is in a way saying.” oh”, it does not involve me. Well, it does. for those attacks on others for other’s political gains, that tragedy, that senseless killing, that ruling , that law. A life of living with rage, anger, prejudice, rascism, selfishness, fear, exclusion, and decisions made from courts, that prevent those that love each other, to live happy, and peaceful. As we all want to do in life. Yes, I have a problem with that. I am a community man, that believes that everyone is entitled to have the same in life. No one is better and more entitled than any one else. I live an Empathatic life. I am no better than anyone else, and I could be in their situation at any moment in time. I am humbled in my life right now, and I see those “hurting” everyday. Up close and personal. YOU are so lucky, if you woke up loved, warm, happy, loved, safe, secure, and just with a “song” in your heart, and not an echoing “Regret voice” making your day to day moments a struggle to just seek peace. I mean all that!. Read it again. You are lucky, if you are loved and warm. Charity’s meaning in most of the world, means “justice”. I live my life this way, I have empathy, I have a conscience that is at peace most days, when I see everyone treated with kindness. ( if they are around the corner, down the street, or even around the other side of the world.) The world is wobbling, and wounded right now. There has always been problems, strife from one group or another, and what you CHOOSE to put a magnifying glass on at one certain time or another, is what the media leads their attention too. It’s also, what you can

“magnify” for your personal sane-ness, and happiness, and day to day peace. I want to have peace in my heart. Life is too short to not GIVE yourself peace. I do this by placing my LOCAL community, largely in my heart, and actions.. Paying attention to “what” locally I can make a difference in. Yes VOTING, is what you can do on a larger scale. Yet, day to day, you can “help” your neighbor. You can DO what you can do to instill peace, human love, inspiring hearts, and caring for those less fortunate. Also, helping your day to day hours at work, at school, at the kitchen table with your family, at a day at the park or beach with your friends, as PEACEFUL and happy, as you can. KINDNESS is free. Giving is easy. HATE takes time to pass out, LOVE is right there in your heart. Open that “heart” DOOR this morning, TURN that “channel” on….. you think?…. and you know, when you are an older man, as I. Well, I “can” take , frivolous mean words, name calling, and the like, for I have had time to build up my defenses, and I can deflect those names back to the “uneducated, fearful, other human.. but when things are said, in front of young, happiness seeking youth, those trying to find their way, in life, and to be peaceful in their skin. Then I have a problem with that. Life is so short, to spend it spewing hate. Take a stand, for love for one another today. Excuse me while I go cut off the tv, and turn up the tunes!… have a good day everyone. thanks for letting me spill.. My brain is full this morning… later.

be still

A difficult situation no matter what form it takes is designed to break down your rigid emotional security, it does not diminish, and it is not cured, just because one morning you get up and say, “Ah, today I’m going to throw it all away”…yet, Precisely at that moment, in your vulnerablity, just when you come to grips with your own limitations and difficulties, your soul creates a possibility, and gives you a window of hope, presents to you, the truth. The time, the grace, the open arms, to heal this aspect of yourself, that has been holding you down, and frees you of it. For good. Be still, don’t miss these moments. Listen.
f.messina 4.22.23

1984

1984. I escaped the army to spend two days in Amsterdam. This artist, chalk sidewalk drawing, did this in front of me. I planned on walking all over the city, I was transfixed. Cried on the street, just watching it happen. Few., very few coins dropped in the buckets.. then RAIN came.. I mean strong rain.. I finally was able to have the artist, agree to take a “tourist” picture for me.. this one. then rain came, WASHED all this down the drain.. almost immediately… I being young. to art expression as this.. asked, as my heart was hurting for this guy’s effort, work, talent. all gone in a minute. I asked.” what now?” HE gave my largest lesson in art.. he said.. ” Art is not yours, Art is meant to be shared. .I said. but “you can’t share it now!”. and then he got really close to my face, he made me look back at the space the piece was.. and he almost whispered in my ear.. ” did you like it?”. I said yes! .he continued, even closer and more determined in my ear, “then, I shared it.”, and then he kept on , “if you hold on to everything of beauty so tight, in life, that you are sad when it is gone, then that means you must appreciate it more, the short time we have them.. Art fades he said, memories. don’t.. . that was a day.. it really happend, I will never forget it.then he grabbed a piece of chalk and went to work again. it is WHY I love art, music, stuff. now.. so much.. I am taken right back to this moment. with this guy. every day. every creative moment… so glad I got this shot…

with others

with others. the ones that finally see that they are not gravity…….. when THEY know they are not the center, they are not the middle of madness anymore, then they are the core of LOVE………… then they can give more love, they dig from a well, they thought all their life was from a spring, when in reality it leads out to an ocean. Your love is larger than you think. your ability to love is your secret, exposed. stood up against all hate, covering up all hurt. yours or your neighbors. smothering all bad, with good cheer, and bright days without guilt of owning the moment. this moment. love more. go to the well. it’s endless.

5.1.23 f.messina

Great Moon

Great moon watch over us as the god you know. Making your round a little closer to us tonight letting us think larger . Allowing us to bow in human thought to a universe of possibilities. Knowing that the little things we worry about are only a drop in the vast space that you know. The space that you tour with such beauty ,the lives as us that you saw from our beginnings till the last time we held our breath. You are grand you are mighty. You shine in grace. You give the oceans its rhythm. Who am I to not give you praise. Hi moon! Nice to see ya. F.messina 4.26.21

I Miss you

I miss you. yep, you. You know who you are.
That guitar strumming till light, that humming in the car when we were gazing up at mountains along the trip.The way your clanging in the kitchen , even on off mornings… would wake me up, but my frown,turned to a smile as soon as I realized… wow.. good to have someone in the kitchen. Then, I miss you.

I miss you, yep, you. You know who you are.
Those baby blues, looking into my soul, and then that smirk.of haha. you had to look away first.. Then, I knew you had stolen my soul. you time thief!. Then, I miss you.

I miss you, yep, you. You know who you are.
After the beach we felt fried. All the wet cool towels in the world could not lessen the heat on our thighs. Sun tired, fun induced, salt water gave new fluff and sent all the toxins to cuba!.
……………………………………………then, I miss you.

f,messina (c). 4.17.23

be kind

be kind to everyone along the way. we are all on the same journey Saying so long to an incredible Aunt this week. one that lived a full life of love, music, good food, family, and laughter. celebrating her wonderful life this week, with love,music,good food, family, and laughter!. My beautiful Aunt Virgina (rip my Angel). joined our Angel family in heaven this week. every time we lose another leaf from our family trees,the sadness is large, yet, when you are positive that, that one life will always be the mighty standing oak in our memories, then our lives go on. We all will be mighty oaks one day, barren of leaves, at times, at other times, in full bloom, in full spring. We are all on the same journey. Our roots are deep. treasure each day, each season, each phase of the seasons. on the horizon, there are many different colors of trees, all sharing this life ,be kind to all the trees, all the folks, all of our human family. We are no different than trees… grander plan than our day to day. I spend mine in kindness. I learned it ,from the source. RIP Aunt Virginia. I love you.

the land locked lonely

transitions of life that leave scars in your eyes, give surface to hurts that once were filled lies. If truth is a diamond, and love is pure wine, and fortunes are squandered for more precious time. If sunsets are golden, and clouds empty the rain, then fill right back up, why,can’t we do the same?. If promises broken, were never made twice, and if I was mean, when you thought I was nice. Then what is left in our coffers of gifts, but oceans of forever, and beaches eroded so swift. The land locked lonely, can plant more gardens of life, foundations for buildings to house more of the strife. Angels know why, we all have to fight, for at life’s end we will always choose flight. If Heaven is here, and hell is too. Why can’t we love stronger, when life is so short, why can’t we build more kind bridges, than harsh solid forts. …………. f,messina. 3.15.23

house of belonging

love, kindness, and respect. are the only visitors I am taking at my life’s door anymore.. if you aren’t carrying at least two of these.. find another “house of belonging”. We tried. Rocked back into my true being. Good luck in finding those in your life, that can wait for you to be loving, kind, or respectful. period.
For some it takes a long time to understand the basics of living and surviving with others. A healthy dose of .. chill out .had to be said. With age these things become matras of what you will accept in your life and thus creates peace. I am still searching for more peace. Some folks, still want to live in a state of sabatoge, and well. I am not their sabotage funnel anymore. . I miss you. My soul needs connection to truth. Life moves fast, caring hearts thrown ahead in my path, are easier to tread through than cold ones.

i miss you

lingering love left lonely lifts lost languages laying lofty like ladybugs looking longingly at last, lounging. fresh found fruitful friends fathon forever for future frictions fade away fondly. yet it still hurts. i miss you.

bad art show memory

grateful for so many nice photos of the show.. this one of new friend and artist Raychel Tamron Lynn has me really happy.. this “shot”is the reason for all the hard work done by not only me but all my incredible friends that helped us pull it off.. “Happy Artist” More , I feel that art is our chance in life to escape to other places. I prefer those other places to bring joy, support, and love for what you do, by being not afraid to show your true emotions. I strive always to create environments that are not hostile, and mean spirited.. It is sad that others think that in order to make an impact your have to be harsh too.. That may work in business, and the “Cold” world of 9-5.. when we are all in “Survival mode” ( we all have our bills and common problems) Some think that I am too positive always.. well I am just being REAL and since I have worked so hard at achieving a state of “individuality of self” and ” celebrating self” at the Apartment E events.. Photos like this just let me know that my dreams are right on target. Negativity” can just not look my way…! .because I am not looking at him.. . Nice to meet you Raychel, hope you had a great time, and met a lot of new people.. thank you everyone for supporting Apartment E, The Imperial, City of Sanford, All the Orlando area venues that support art shows, and thank yourself for being open minded and real. and to let “creativity “do some work on it’s own.. and inviting you in to play in his world.. peace ,love and art to you all. ,frankie

music is life

just when you think you ran fast enough, just when you think the race is won, you meet up with sprinters, ones knowing their game, the top line of the music chain, the longing of others to catch up with your game. Running to catch up , you trip on new friends,,, then something clicks inside that gives you hope for new notes, new melodies ,new beats,. New strums of a guitar that speaks only when poked. In lovely new songs, in banter and smiles, in getting the sound right, and giving it all.. In shaking hands of a new band on a break, and knowing those hands just caused verses to sound great. I only wish to be giving my support,my role is small it is of a loving new fan. one man on a wed, stopping in for one, then getting much more, avoiding the conflict, putting rest the hurt. Run Raquel gave me reasons to filter the bad parts of the day……. and it was nice to hear them, under a harvest moon, giving a cool city, some bright shining solution…. to what is right in front of your faces.. …. (written after seeing another great set of live music at The Imperial… this time Run Raquel) f.messina (c) 6.13.18