Old Way
Wish and Pray.
New Way
Move the blocks out of your way.

Old Way
Sit and Regret the past.
New Way
Gratitude, sit with that.

Old Way
Wear the backpack full of everything since eight.
New Way
Cut the straps, move with faith.

Old Way
Wait for the invitation to the celebration.
New Way
Find things worth celebrating, get on stage, and domination.

Old Way
Worry about what I am doing not amounting to nothing at all.
New Way
Remember what I got, what I am doing, and what I am doing it for.

Old Way
Wait for you to validate me.
New Way
Know the only one that needs to celebrate me is me, ’cause in the end I am the one with my heartbeat, I am the one who has walked in my shoes and has witnessed what I can only have seen and knows what it takes to be me. That’s the only thing I need.
 
Finally I am Free
It took a long time.
I have reached that mindset.

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly. His third book, Train of Thought 2: Almost Home is available now at the Oddball Book Store.