To The Boy I Once Was

I wish I was there when you needed someone -

to remind you that you didn’t have to carry everything alone,

that it was okay to rest, to ask for help, to just breathe.

But maybe you had to learn the hard way -

through the noise, the silence, the wins and losses -

that strength isn’t loud, and survival isn’t always graceful.

You found your rhythm both onstage and on the court,

you studied minds and hearts while trying to heal your own,

and you kept sharing light even on the days you had none left to give.

Now, at 45, I see the boy who never stopped learning,

the man who still believes in kindness,

and the father who keeps showing up no matter how heavy life gets.

We made it - bruised, wiser, softer.

And I’m proud of the person we’ve become.