Thirty-Six Trips Around the Sun 

Today marks thirty-six trips around the sun for me 

Thirty-six years ago, today I was born 

My halfway point now is 18 years old 

18 years of restful sleep since i got put on trazodone 18 years ago 

18 years of strife 18 years of struggle 

The second half of my life includes a lot of downs some bitterly so 

Two almost suicide attempts 

One suicide attempt which by the grace of God my firm protector was not successful 

Though it wasn’t for lack of trying 

One beautiful relationship that ended in heart break 

And messed me up for a long time 

That resulted in a beautiful friendship  

One which I fear has ended 

The loss of grandparents 

The loss of a father 

3 moves, a trailer home, and an old new home 

2 books written, compiled, and published 

Lives of others changed and saved 

This has been my latter half 

Agonizing though it’s been at parts I wouldn’t trade it for the world 

Everything I’ve been through has me better and stronger 

Allowed me glimpses of how to help others through the struggles I’ve been through myself 

I may not look like much in the eyes of many I may not have achieved much  

In the eyes of some I may not amount to much 

But I’m a jack of all trades 

A great cook 

Masculine yet in touch with my emotions and my feelings i must be as a poet 

A great baker 

I’m happy with my life and can’t wait to see what the next 36 years brings 

I can’t wait to look back on this as just my second quarter and not a latter half 

But I won’t rush it Life is meant to be lived in the present  

Not the future, or the past 

So, here’s to me, and here’s to another trip around the sun may I be graced with many more.