At nineteen you stand wide eyed with wonder
Slightly touched by experience and yet
Not enough to be jaded – that’s a good thing
A lifetime stretching far in front
A close and yet so distant childhood
So near you can still feel it.
When you are nineteen
You can be all the things
You wish to be if you want to, maybe.
There are roads to take
Paths to follow
Words to read (so many!)
And listen to
Then evaluate
Forms to fill
Classes to take
Dreams to fulfill
Or not, as is your will.
‘Cause the dreams you dream now
Are what become your tomorrows.
Words of wisdom are wonderful
If understood they are filtered
Through lives lived by others
Good to heed but not to lead
For your road is the path
Not taken yet.
Have faith.
Believe in yourself
Remember always
The days and nights given
Are numbered to you and you only
Those shared are special
But in the end
Have few regrets
Those anchors weigh you down.
Life your life with all your heart
And all your soul
For what matters most is
Not how good you were
But the good you did for others
And for yourself.
Live, love, be happy.
Be smart, work hard, study.
Most of all, be true to yourself;
Everything else falls into place.
Nineteen, for all its wonder and its angst
Is a truly incredible place to be.
(c) Catherine M. Harris, July 5, 2010 and we all know who this is for.
