Saturday, July 01, 2006

MY WAY...

Right now, I am in a phase of my life riddled with uncertainty. I have some lofty and unconventional goals, and I am unsure about a lot of things. I have spent a lot of time dissipating the fear and anxiety through some rational thinking and the advice of others. I can now say I look to the future with nothing but confidence and excitement.

My father, one very good role model, enjoys singing obnoxiously. One of his favorite songs is "My Way," by Frank Sinatra, because the lyrics are so true to his own life. I hope- correction, I KNOW- I will sing this song and mean it one day.

"And now, the end is near, and so I face, the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived, a life that's full, I've traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
I did, what I had to do, and saw it through, without exemption.
I planned, each charted course, each careful step, along the byway,
and more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off, more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up, and spit it out.
I faced it all, and I stood tall,
and did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think, I did all that, and may I say --- not in a shy way,
"Oh no, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things, he truly feels,
And not the words, of one who kneels.
The record shows, I took the blows ---
And did it my way!


I can just hear Frank Sinatra's voice booming in my head...

Another cluster of words which inspires me is Robert Frost's famous poem "The Road Not Taken" :

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

Normally, I am not a big fan of poetry (I usually don't understand it) but this poem's message is important to me.

And so, I'll listen to my friends, Frank and Robert. I'll do it my way and take the road less traveled. There will be some shitty times but hey, it wouldn't be life without shitty times, right?


3 comments:

DobyD said...

There comes a time when the master has no more lessons for the student...

I know its today...

Now the Master becomes the student...

Bravo!

Anonymous said...

Where did you find it? Interesting read »

Anonymous said...

Excellent, love it! » »