I was blind to the deception around me,

I remember how lost I was when I realized you were not who you pretended to be.

I heard the words you spoke but then they had a different meaning,

I saw a friend take the form of a stranger, I thought, “I must be dreaming”.

I worried that I had been going through life seeing only what I wanted to see,

I thought, “Why?” “How could this be?” I was your friend; I thought you were to me.

But I want to change…

I am who I say I am and that is all I can be,

I think people look through clouded vision and never see the true me.

I need to find my own strength when others find me weak,

I try to understand what it is I long for, what it is I seek.

I feel the pain of others and share in their sorrow,

I forgive today so hate won’t take away my tomorrows.

Now I can change…

I will make changes but I will not let the past change who that I am inside,

I choose to be who I am so that my true self never hides.

I dream of a world where compassion and honesty reigns,

I hope love for you and others will replace the hate that remains.

I predict the kindness I show to others will somehow make a difference in their lives and how they feel,

I know some will hide behind their own misery and never try to change but I will.

I will change.

                                                                       By: Carla Guest