What About Me
by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
What about me? That’s my first thought every morning.
What happened to me? It’s my last thought every night.
Has this gotten me anywhere? Any more friends? Any more love?
It should. It should have, by now.
In fact, by now I should be a bundle of joy.
Because I say this mantra every day.
What about me? What about me? What about..
What About Me
by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
What about me? That’s my first thought every morning.
What happened to me? It’s my last thought every night.
Has this gotten me anywhere? Any more friends? Any more love?
It should. It should have, by now.
In fact, by now I should be a bundle of joy.
Because I say this mantra every day.
What about me? What about me? What about..
In fact, it’s embarrassing
I state this mantra all day
Like the beating of my heart:
What about me?
What about me? What about me? What about..
When I take a shower, I think: “what about me?”
I hope this shower makes me feel happy.
I hope this kiss makes me feel happy.
I hope this lunch makes me happy.
I hope these clothes make me feel happy.
I hope this donut, this cup of coffee,
This new affair, this new job….
What about me? What about me?
What about me? What about me?
What about me?
This new spiritual practice,
This new movie, this new CD
Oh, this new CD will make me happy…
What about me? That’s my first thought every morning.
What about me?
What happens to me? It’s my last thought every night.
Has this gotten me any more love? Any more joy?
This new city, this new country,
This new planet, this new universe makes me happy.
You know what? None of it will make you happy
Unless you do one simple thing:
Change “me” for “you.”
Change “me” for “you.”
Just wake up in the morning, try something wild.
Just break up the monotony.
Instead of “me,” say “you.”
Are you? Are you happy?
Are you? Are you happy?
What about you? That’s my first thought every morning.
What about you?
What happens to you? It’s my last thought every night.
This has given me so much more love, so much more joy.
When I give you a big fat kiss, take a shower,
Make my bed, when I dance,
May it make you happy.
When I give you the remote control,
May it make you happy.
When I sit on a park bench by myself,
When I feel the sun, the breeze,
May it make you happy.
When I just look at you, and stare at your eyes,
May it make you happy.
And you know what? When you’re happy, I’m happy.
That’s the formula:
First you, then me.
That’s all happiness is.
It’s just the heart of being free.