Reflections on a Drop-Down Ceiling

It's good to live
to remember the heartache of unrequited adolescent love
to consider all you've accomplished and all you have yet to accomplish
to recall friends long gone and opportunities missed
to feel the rush of wind in your hair and rain on your face on a stormy summer afternoon
to fall asleep with your wife's head resting on your chest
to wonder why and how we're all here at all
to let go of old dreams and build new ones
to listen to a favourite song from twenty years past in the dark after midnight
to take a risk and succeed, or fail
to give your parents reasons to be proud
to reconcile and forgive
to harbour an appropriate measure of righteous anger
to do a bit of heavy lifting
to be surprised
to be wise
to be foolish
to have a few secrets that are yours alone
to strike out alone and see who you are
to look up at the stars in isolation
to stare at the ceiling and wonder who built it and what they're doing now
to do the right thing whenever you can, wherever you can, whatever the consequences...
...and to know that your judgment is imperfect...
...and to proceed anyway, because someone must.