Life is precious; this I now believe. Every breath you take, a person somewhere is envious of you. Every smile you bare, someone will cry at its beauty. Every bat you swing, word you write, song you sing, note you tune, step you take, someone is not capable to do that, someone in the world has been denied that privilege. Life is precious; this I now believe.
The irony of me saying this is incredible, as I was once a teenager who didn’t take advantage of all the things I had. I was a teenager who almost stepped over the edge of my own harsh reality, creating a life long pain for the family and friends that I hadn’t known who cared. I was once a person, a young teenager and growing adult, who hated the breath I could take and the heart that kept me strong.
I’ve had a lot of conflicting things in my life, and I’ve had my share of misfortunes. At one point in time, I had hated life, and suicide was a frequent thought that tainted my mind. I grew up in what people call a broken home, although when I was younger, I never understood it. Alcoholism had infected my family’s home, and anger seemed to knock on door step too often. Violence in action wasn’t nearly as common, as violence with words were. But my family was strong and we fought it off, both alone and together. At times we were independent, and way too often, we were against each other. Our commonality in blood wasn’t strong enough for the ‘sibling rivalry’ that was there, nor the other problems that were present. Our family wasn’t all pain and agony, but it was also full of trips to the beach, bike rides, camp outs, and summer vacations. Those memories are bright in my memory, but the dark ones are what hurt, the dark memories are what snuck up me. The dark memories are what hide in the corners of our closets.
Eventually, the pain was too much for us to bear, and slowly we fell apart. My mother moved to a city north from my own, my half brother and half sister soon followed, chasing their own dreams, which left my father and me in the town my family grew up in. That’s when it got worse. The pain that was there, dulled after we all separated, but eventually, it intensified. I became a person I didn’t recognize.
I got a rude awakening one morning, and I found out that my cousin had committed the crime that had been in my mind for a few years, it almost pushed me over. But I saw the pain that our family went through, and I was the symbol of walking pain, but no one had known the hurt I had felt. Nightmares plagued me, and my own imagination worked against me.
I got through it though, and I lived with my pain, never forgetting, but I was almost numb to it all. One late night, as I was driving home, I saw headlights coming towards me, going way too fast, and I knew they wouldn’t be able to clear my own car as they were turning. I jerked the wheel, and the car cleared my own by feet. Thoughts ran through my head, and I thought about my friends who were close to me, and who relied on me. I broke down. I realized that death wasn’t really what I wanted. Ironically, a few weeks later, I was in a car accident. Turning on to a main road, a truck seemingly came out of nowhere. I had the option of trying to speed up and clear it, or slam on the breaks. I did the latter. Later, my friends and I concluded that if I had done anything else, the truck would have hit me on my side of the car, rather than the front panel.
I believe that those two close calls are what knocked me out of my depression. I realize now that I have a lot going for me. I’ve always had a lot of dreams for myself, but lost hope had always been in my life too. I like to believe, that now, I’m living my life to the fullest. I have my hopes and dreams, my friends and family. The four things I hold closest to me, and without a doubt, I am glad I’m here. Life is precious; this I believe.
Author notes
Written November 21st, 2005
What did you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
-
Some reason, this made me feel better about things. I have no idea why but I guess reading someone elses story is something I needed to see. Life is precious, I agree. But life isn't always fair and it's often cruel. But it's not always cruelist to you. Good write.
-
Excellent
It shows how everyone has a story to tell, a mountain to climb, a situation that tests their ability to rise above it all, and in the end....victory is found in your ability to live. Life is indeed precious, no matter what comes our way to try and convince us that it's not. It may not seem so precious when we're hit hard with the stones life throws at us, but if we learn a lesson from each situation we're in, and believe in hope, and keep our faith....those stones start to turn to jewels. Very lovely write!
-
WOW AND GOD BLESDS YOU FOR YOUR WRITTING
IF MORE PEOPLW COULD SEE WHAT YOU A GREAT PERSON HAS WROTE AND LIVED THROUGH , WELL I WISH IT COULD HELP THEM I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU AND FOR FIGHTING AND STICKING AROUND TO SEE WHAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER. IN YOUR CLOSE CALL OF 2X AND HOW IT HAS OPENED YOUR EYES . WELL SIR YOU DESERVE A GREAT PAT ON THE BACK AND I BET A LOT OF MOM'S AND DAD'S WOULD GIVE YOU A HUG THAT WOULD TAKE YOUR BREATH ALMOST AWAY, I KNOW I SURE WOULD BLESS YOU SON, GOD BLESS YOU FROM HEAD TO TOE. MAY YOU FIND A GIRL WHO GIVES YOU THE BIGGEST KISS FOR JUST STAYING AROUND FOR HER YOU ARE WORTH IT .. AFTER ALL GOD DOSEN'T MAKE GARBAGE OR ANYTHING ELSE I TIP MY CUP OF MILK TO YOU SIR. KEEP THOSE EYES OPEN THER IS A LOT MORE OF THIS WORLD FOR YOU TO SEE YET.
-
we all have conflicts within our lives that make us grow within life itself... without we could never appreciate what is given to us freely...whether we realise it or not!
It's too bad that some don't realise what's been given to them freely.
I'm glad that you have my friend!
Keep penning on one stroke at a time!
Bill -
This is really a heartfelt write.I'm really sorry for the problems that you had to face in your life.
But I'm glad that you're hopeful and wise enough to learn from your past to live hopefully and with joy.Not everybody can do this.So weldone my dear friend for being so courage to do that.
Wish you happy days and luck.Happy New Year.
Shahrzad -
inspiring
Life often throws at us pain and regret, decisions and hate. We live our lives often just trying to get by which is not realy that good of a thing...I feel you pain dear, even though my life was not of realizing pain of suffering, but of just letting it wash over me, taking each misserable day like walking through the mud...I guess we all have to find our awakeing period, and I am glad I have found mine...I hope you continue to be inspired and inspire others, I hope life treats you with good and you treat it good in return. From one who has risen from ashes to another, keep up the good work.
rspjr -
Yes, my poet friend, life is precious. Enjoy your beautiful journey of awakening, for this is the first step. You are now aware of the beauty in life, from here on life is an amazing journey.
BE GREAT!
TW -
I do think of this as more of a short story but I love it. I too have toy around with the idea of suicide and well have come to the conclusion that life is precious and worth living. Thanks for sharing your testimony and this is a great write.
-
haaaaaaaaaaah!
im convinced....i just made my decision that i like breathin...but then again great poem. -
wonderful poem...you are really talented.
-
But how I came to this state of mind has been a struggle I don't want anyone to know, much less experience. Thank you so much for your words.
-Kami- -
i can really relate to what you've written here....i have lived my life like i's torture and every morning taunted me...when in a relative sense my life isn't close to as bad as it can get...i just hated myself and therefore found it incredibly hard to find joy in much of anything i did or experienced....i'm in a better frame of mind these days but it is a daily struggle, your 16 and have come to a place that i at now 22 have just come to....you ae definately strong and thoughtful.....jump in keep pace, ievitably fumble and fall from grace, pick yourself up no matter how long it takes jump back in and remember this is not a race......bravo reality
_Leah -
It's not so much a poem as a essay or short story. Thank you for your comment and applaud
Edited on Nov 21, 7:10 p.m. because ''. -
Nice
wow this is very nice and expresses alot.it's also believable.. keep up the good work, poetry this long should get an applaud!!!!
Adding your comment:
1 - 14 of 14
