Choose

Found and finagled ...
as I do.

I choose

to live by choice,

not chance;

to be motivated,

not manipulated;

to be useful,

not used;

to make changes,

not excuses;

to excel,

not compete;

to encourage,

not sabotage;

to listen and learn,

not respond and react;

to care and comfort,

not degrade and demean.

I choose

self-esteem,

not self pity.

I choose to listen

to my inner voice,

not the random opinions

of others.

I choose to be happy,

not crappy.

I choose positives 

and silver linings

and the innate goodness

that sits deep within each of us.

What do you choose?