I Could Have Been

I Could Have Been By Franklin Price Ediited 6/22/2017 (originally written 6/22/2014) I could have been a lot of things I'm really glad I'm not; A liar and a cheater, a druggie or a sot A selfish inconsiderate, treating others quite unfair Looking down, from my exalted perch, my nose up in the air My pockets full of money, earned through any means at all, With unappreciative peons, at my daily beck and call. Friends, because I give them almost everything they need, While I use them, in most any way, to satisfy my greed. None of these are who I am. I could name so many more. Yet that would be a waste of time and make my fingers sore. Let me provide some insight, into who I think is me, And how I've traveled through this life and how things ought to be, To top the list, above all else, to love your fellow man. Many make it difficult, they don't seem understand. It's not do it unto others. before they do it unto you; It's to try to put yourself into the other person's shoe. Think long and hard before you speak, be careful what you say, For words come back to bite you, in an unexpected way. Make friends because you like them, not for what they do for you, Hope that in befriending you, that is their real reason too. Don't think you're any better than ones who have a little less, For oh so many reasons, their lives could be in such a mess, Be grateful that you're fortunate, put a smile upon your face, For misfortune could easily visit you and put you in their place. Do not envy others who have a little more than you.  If you work a little harder, then you can have it too. It's not about the things you have, but how you look at life. It's far too short to dwell on things that only cause you only strife. If you give to other people, expecting nothing in return, It's better than receiving, that's a lesson I have learned. If it just so happens that some of them reciprocate, That it's not because they think they owed, but that they appreciate. Consider all your actions and how they would make you feel. If it's less than positive. it's not too late to change the deal. It's only you, who has to know, the one you need to be And when looking in the mirror you still like the one you see.