Waking up on my 26th birthday 

I woke up and realized

How precious my life is;

Precious in that it is full of love

And precious in that it is fleeting.

I want this to be my first thought 

Every time I wake up,

But I tend to lie there 

Under a blanket of negativity instead.

I think of the friendships I’ve lost

Instead of the friendships I’ve built to last.

I worry about those who reject me

Instead of caring for those who love me.

My thoughts run to what my life 

could have been or used to be 

Instead of what it is. 

Then the threat of unfulfilled potential 

pushes me out of bed,

But the negativity is still stuck

In the back of my mind,

Infecting my day 

And clouding my light. 

But today was different.

Maybe it was my friend’s diagnosis 

Or the near-miss car accident 

Or maybe it was just the morning sun 

Hitting the wall over my bed.

But today I woke up and remembered:

My life is fleeting 

And it is full of love.