From the Wisdom of my Teenage Heart

I wrote this poem when I was 15. I called it “My Way.” 

(I had big love for Sinatra… even then)

Me as a youth!

I am what I am; I do what I do.

I’m happy being me; I don’t want to be you.

I say what I think and I mean what I say;

I don’t let other people’s judgments get in the way.

I’ve been this way since I don’t know when.

I’m just me and I’m comfortable in my skin.

I have ambitions and dreams for life.

I know life’s hard and that’s alright.

I’ll fall in love as often as I can.

If I get hurt, I’ll just start over again.

I won’t let my pain make me too jaded to see

that, when I’m ready, love will come for me.

I’ll make my dreams come true, there is no doubt.

I’ll do what it takes, but I’ll never sell out.

And when I die, I’m going to be able to say:

I lived my life and I did it my way.