I Used to Think...

by Gonzo

 

I used to think life would be so much easier than it has been. But because of the choices I’ve made it has become a road full of potholes and detours, leading me to places I wouldn’t have gone otherwise. But I’ve become a better man because of it all. I can travel to places I’ve only dreamed of. My life has given me wonderful children, a beautiful granddaughter, and wisdom I can in turn pass on to someone who is willing to listen and apply it to their lives.

I used to think I would be like my father and become a firefighter. Instead I’ve become the one who starts the fires – not literally, but within my family I have instigated a great deal of chaos. But now I’ve become the mediator in life’s obstacles, the patch for the pothole, and life has fewer detours.

I used to think…now I do.

 

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I Used to Think…

by Anthony Smith

 

I used to think it was cool to be the bad guy

I used to think I would never make it the way I want to

I used to think I had to impress everyone

I used to think I knew it all

I used to think I was better than a lot of people

I used to want to be something I’m not

I used to think a lot of people were better than they were

I used to think that life was fun

I used to think it was cool to act stupid

I used to think it was cool to be disrespectful

I used to think it was ok to pick on weaker or different people

 

Now I think it’s cool to act mature and handle myself intelligently

Now I think I’m gonna make it farther than I planned

Now I think that I don’t need to prove anything to anybody

Now I know I need to learn a lot more than I thought I did

Now I try not to categorize or judge people

Now I want to be a well-rounded man

Now I have learned to see through a lot of fronts

Now I understand the seriousness of life

Now I can’t stand immature people

Now I know that if I respect myself it will be easier to give respect

Now I don’t encourage or run with bullies

 

I used to think it was pointless to try to be good in this evil and twisted world. I used to think I would never change and that everyone owed me something. Now I see that not everything comes as fast as or he exact way I want it to. I can also see that I need to do good for myself to see what I can get out of it. I see now that I can make life what I want it to be instead of letting it make me.

 

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Should’ve. Would’ve, Could’ve

by Lee Cagle

 

I used to think that my life would turn out different than it did. I used to think that I would be almost done with college by now, but instead I have barely passed two classes in just one term. I used to think that by now I’d have a car and a house, and instead I have a Cadillac that’s broken down, no license, and no home. I used to think I would have a family by the age of 30, but at the young age of 22 I have a family of my own. I used to think that my loved ones and friends would live forever. In three years I have seen 11 people who were close to me pass away, including my brother, who I lost four months ago. I used to think that by now I’d be the apple of my parent’s eyes, but look where I’m at – fucking jail, no job, a college drop out, not there for my mom, dad, brothers, daughter, wife and friends. I used to think that I’d be successful, but in here I can’t do anything.

 

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I Used To Think…

by Izzy Traiger

 

I used to think…

…I was the best at everything I did.

…I couldn’t fall in love anymore after my heart was broken the first time.

…I’d be a pro skateboarder, not in prison or county.

…the world revolved around getting’ fucked up on something.

…I had friends, ‘til they used me for money, a place to stay, drugs, and my kindness.

…the world was against me.

 

There’s more to life than I used to think,

like:

“I AM!”

 

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Think

by Bobby Casarez

 

I used to think life was all about making money, doing drugs, getting with girls, and all that materialistic shit. But now that I’ve gotten older and have kids, I know that its not all about you. Once you have kids, you’ve got to snap out of that faze. It’s ok to have your fun here and there, but if you fuck off too much sometimes you’ll get into shit you don’t wanna be in, like the situation I’m in now. And once you’re in a fucked up situation you wish you could go back and change it but the reality is you’re stuck until you are able to manipulate a way out. People say this and that but it’s now as easy to change and snap out of all the shit you’re used to doing, especially when you’re addicted to that lifestyle. But do what you do, it’s your own life and you can live it however you want.