I remember being seventeen
and trying to envision life's prospects
in the misty shadows of my future
I felt the fear and uncertainty of
"making the right decisions"
With such potential, much was expected,
and the voices of those around me
rang with abundant advice and counsel
The thought of
"I can do anything I want to do"
was followed closely by the realization that
if I attempted to please anyone,
much less everyone,
I was not going to please myself,
because those things the voices spoke of
were not the things
I wanted and needed
All I wanted was a quiet existence
and someone to love
I didn't care what I did
or even where
A peaceful place was what I longed for,
where I could walk in the moonlight
and listen to the whisper of the wind through the trees
Just a tranquil place
somewhere
to write a bit, to take a few photographs,
and to contemplate the beauty
of the world around me
If only ...
Now I am once again approaching
being seventeen
The nest will soon be empty,
and I've begun to contemplate
all that this will mean to me
The thought of
"I could go anywhere, I could do anything"
no longer brings fear or uncertainty,
but rather a sense of awed wonder
For it stands to reason that if
anything is possible,
then everything must be as well
Just think for a moment ...
If anything is possible,
everything is
And since this is true,
why not make it as positive
and brightly shining
as every moment can be
I have the opportunity to dream
any future I choose,
and by my actions
bring it into reality
Anything and everything
And if I succeed in finding my sanctuary,
well and good
But even if I don't
at least I will be able to say truthfully
"I did my best; I tried."
I have come to realize that this is truly
being seventeen
It is the trying and testing of our wings
with confidence in whom we are,
belief in where we want to go,
and the courage to face the unknown
© Shelley L. Flynn
08/02
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