Growing Pains

Dear Adults,

Do you remember the feeling of standing

two small steps away from

the myriad of doors--

each opening to a different hallway

--with "Your Future"

slathered in thick red paint across its frame?

And although you were

and still are

A dust speck sitting on the fabric of time and space,

you felt like Atlas

trying to choose the right door.

Do you remember the times

when a broken crayon  

was your only source of

"stress"

And society had not yet

Molded you into believing

it is wrong

to color outside the lines?

Shoulders were just shoulders

and not the cause of misdirected

blame upon girls for being

"classroom distractions"

Boys could cry without being told

to "man up"

and get laughed at for showing emotions.

Do you remember falling in love...

and off a bike for the very first time?

A band aid could fix that scraped knee

But not all wounds heal so easily.

Do you remember being afraid

Of the imaginary monsters under your bed

And how quickly that fear dissipated

With a parent’s warm hug or soft assurance?

Yes, that was your biggest fear.

Not student loans

Or failure or being a disappointment.

Do you remember when you finally found yourself?

Piecing the past and the present together

From a pile of brokenness and mistakes,

Gathered wisdom and guidance,

Until you became whole.

Do you remember?

Sincerely,

The Youth