The Life Instruction Manual

Whenever you love a thing you do,
Plan to enjoy it not once, but two.
The first time is messy, a dance with mistakes,
You stumble through paths; misjudge what it takes.

Systems deceive you; you learn they're untrue,
And sections unravel — you start them anew.
Yet joy is there, in this trial-filled run,
The fumbling, the falling — it’s still so much fun.

But the second time comes, and you know the terrain,
You see through the traps, sidestep all the pain.
You glide like a master, with wisdom in hand,
Living that best life here, just as you planned.

The great tragedy, though, is life's cruel and rife:
We only get one single run in this life.
And me? I've hit every trap in the maze,
Fumbled the wrong path, for most of my days.

Yet from this truth, a purpose does rise—
To capture my failures and make them a prize.
I must be a writer, to leave what I've learned,
The wisdom from ashes of bridges I've burned.

A gift to the children who follow my way,
A guide for their first steps, to light their dark day.
I'll call it The Life Instruction Manual, true,
So their first run might feel like my second run through.

Copyright ©️ 2024, Justin Kynd

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