What I would say to my younger self.
If you listen closely,
I’ll tell you what I know.
It’s a story of “coming-of-age,”
braving the bumps and bruises,
and healing from contusions,
believing in meditative breathing
and becoming a sage
that I hope you learn from.
I’ll whisper it in your ear,
so you won’t be embarrassed
about what you don’t know.
It’ll save your life,
but first, it’ll bring you to tears.
It’s objective truth;
the truth that’ll take the “Hell”
out of Sartre’s “Hell is other people,”
so you don’t give other people
power over you,
so you save me
thousands in therapy,
keeping the meaning of life
a simple endeavor—
“Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
I know you are terrified
but with every breath
I start to come alive.
You’re not alone.
I’m on the other side,
awaiting the path tomorrow
you paved yesterday.
Weather the storms of life
with grit and gumption.
Perfectionism is a loaded gun.
It kills your joy
then shames and blames you
for missing the mark,
a conspicuous sinner,
whose only sin was believing
the formidable assumption
that love requires a dollop
of perfection.
Time is your friend.
It’s kind to the young
but cruel to those who pretend,
wasting their life,
again and again.
Your experiences will influence
how you view the world,
so be careful which path you take.
If you find yourself all alone
with hatred as your only friend,
fight the feeling to forsake and frown,
which weighs heavy on your smile.
Forgive those who’ve hurt you
and cast not the first stone.
Smile on the train terminal
as you wait for the tall blond
on the 3 o’clock
to the Starbucks downtown.
If you want to unlock
the secret to friendship,
constructing character is the key,
a key chiseled, ironically,
by betrayal and pain,
since infancy.
Faster is not always better.
Don’t set the clock to beat it
at its own game.
Many matchstick men have tried,
ending up short-changed,
stung by the sting of relativity.
Worry less
so you can enjoy more
the limitless possibilities
in store
for you
when you slow down
the pace of the plot.
Mind games is a survival mechanism
of insecurity
played out on a stage of popularity
with brand names soon to be forgot.
Voluptuous virginity in a white wedding dress
is sweeter than all the ambrosia
on Aphrodite’s tongue.
Kindness is more than a word,
although all words have spark of light
because words bleed meaning,
infused with divine birthright
even out of the mouths
of mortals and neophytes.
Kindness is more than a noun;
it’s looking around
for someone to share
corn-on-the-cob
à la carte.
It’s a verb of caring
that takes the “Do Not Disturb” sign
off the door knob
of your heart.
Listening and understanding
are more than gerunds,
they leave behind immortal memories
and proof that we lived and we tried;
they’re the prison door opening,
realizing the door opens from the inside.
Congratulations on your success.
But don’t confuse victory with identity.
One is who you are
and the other is doing your best.
God favors you
not because of your accomplishments
but because He enjoyed creating you.
Consistency is the key to progress.
Make a habit of pushing yourself
past your self-imposed limitations.
Instant gratification
is a slippery slope to hedonism.
It’ll leave you feeling used
when you find out—
many years from now—
the number of people you’ve abused,
casually dating to find the perfect person,
who only exists in the movies.
Sarcasm is like drinking cheap whiskey.
You feel high for a while
then wake up hungover,
hearing the same sad song
playing over and over.
Sorrows are sticky,
clinging to you
no matter the city,
leaving you feeling dizzy
from the regrets
or things you’ve tried to forget.
Your annoyances tell you
something about you.
I’m not judging.
I’m just saying.
In a few years
you’ll be fifty,
running out the clock,
wishing to be you again,
thinking about being young again
and the newness of the game
and the gift to keep playing.
Self-doubt is an albatross
tied around your neck.
It keeps you down,
looking for cracks.
So you pick up a rock,
a rebuttal of rage and raw emotion
to throw at those in the center of the pack.
Fight the temptation to turn around,
while you still have time.
The changes you make now
will influence me
sooner than you think.
After all, you’re me
with a skateboard full of insecurities
and I’m you with a truckload of degrees
and opportunities,
some blessings
and some bad puns,
a few more broken promises
and a few more rotations
around the sun.