I stood on the ferry crossing the Bosporus at 53
Watching the spew of the sea
Remembering back when i was 16 crossing the English channel over to France
the 1st time away from my mum'n'dad
And I thought how I still feel pretty much the same now as then;
How I wished I'd just gone ahead with all those dreams I'd had
- which I'm now finally doing at 53;
I'd love to have been able to talk to my 17 year old self
I'd've said “hey, let’s go
“Don’t listen to people criticizing you,
"They may even be trying to help
“But **** them - just do it
“Don't overthink,
"Don't be complicated
"Just go out and make lots and lots of mistakes
“Live!”
And I think what me at 17 would think of me at 53
about what a mess i was to make of life
- of not getting round to living those dreams
- from fear, from laziness, from not getting out of bed
I guess 17 year old me would be angry, frustrated, really disillusioned
But then I'd commiserate the now me
and say, “sure 53 year old me, you've ****** up big time in many ways
“ Most of all by not doing....
“But now you’ve finally started
“Well done! Carry on!”
What I'd like to say to my kids,
To all starting out in adult life
To the inbetweenies
To oldies like me who've a life of lost opportunities
"However young or old,
"stop finding excuses
"Just go and live!
" Start making mistakes,
"Live!!!
...Hugs and love always
(Istanbul 2013 )