Who I Thought I Was

The older I get, the farther away I get from who I thought I was. ~ Buster Niblet

"They" say when a person is old,
memory gone, helpless, dependent
that's when the dominant characteristic
of their life comes out. Generous,
content, bitter, greedy, mean.
So, how do you change that?
By changing the younger version.
By making amends, setting aside fears,
surrendering to a power greater than I...
By being who you choose to be now,
not who your parents or teachers
or the church or others directed.
Not holding to what we're supposed to be
but becoming who we choose to be,
understanding it's our side of the street
and their side of the street
is none of our business.