If this was...

If this was the 60's, we could ride our bikes until the street lights come on.

We would sit on the porch steps and laugh and cry and think about what life can offer us next.

We could go see that new movie at the drive-in, and laugh so hard that soda comes from our noses.

Our handshake would be the seal to any promise or any deal.

If this was the 70's, we would be fighting for our freedom; you for mine and me for yours. 

We would dance like nobody is watching, and we'd dance til the stars wink out and

the sun washes us in it's warm love.

We would wait to worry about life later, and we'd live in that moment for the time now.

If this was the 80's, we would sit in the dark and wonder if we're living in another life or another universe,

the Twilight Zone playing in the background.

We would gather all our quarters and go to the arcade downtown and play Pac-Man,

and eat pizza afterwards.

We would try on our parents' old clothes and pretend that we're the Big, Bad Adults.

If this was the 90's, we could watch Saturday morning cartoons with Fruity Pebbles.

We would pile in front of the TV to watch Boy Meets World and wish to find the Cory to our Topanga.

We would braid our hair and put the newest silly bands on our wrists. 

But, we don't.

We don't live in the 60's, the 70's, the 80's, or the 90's.

We live in the 2010's, where self-love is diminished because of who you are,

who you love,

who you want to be. 

We live in 2017, where it's a fight to live and learn to live and to be okay with living.

We live in 2017, and we're so close to another year that might prompt the same thing.

But, there's a positive to this.

#BecauseILoveYou, I say that no matter what year it is, love like it's your favorite decade.

#BecauseILoveYou, I say that I will fight so you can love as you are, as you want.

So, keep your chin up.

Laugh like it's 60's.

Achieve greatness like it's the 70's.

Dance like it's the 80's.

Wish like it's the 90's.

And despite all that is happening, smile like it's the 2000's.

And move on like it's 2017. For you can do anything, no matter what anyone says.