One flower is my garden

Who doesn't reminisce their childhood

Filled with wonder and joy

Without a care in the whole wide world

Other than to catch that butterfly

Or fly that kite higher than high

Or get soaking wet dancing in the rain
To win that paper boat race 

Who doesn't reminisce their childhood 

when their stomachs were empty and growling

But  hearts were full and glowing

And then without much of a warning

Came teenage with all of its trials

Where confusion was comforting

And conflict with self was palpable

Struggling to be independent

while suppressing the child within

A journey that felt like a lifetime

Only sweetened by friends all around

Who tread a similar path

With so many struggles of their own

Unforgettable experiences, joyful and sad

Rushed through them all, especially the bad

Experiences that couldn't be forgotten, even if you wanted to

To be taken to your grave, even if you didn't want to

Enduring the seemingly unending storms

With friends at the side, seemed less tortuous

And around came adulthood unceremoniously abrupt

Chock full of expectations that I cared very little about

All the rosy dreams of the adulthood charm

Got shattered in a minute of reality and calm

Many a days were filled with doubts 

whether we crossed the finish line

That which really made us adults

To stand on our legs and do just fine

A partner in ignorance came on along-in time

with as much baggage as mine to belong

Flailing all along, we finally learnt the ropes

Found our common ground, stable and to cope

Happy wasn't an everyday sentiment

Throughout the rocky arrangement

Conflict, fights and  misunderstandings,

Filled our lives with arguments-yet

We got back to the table, and made up each time

And slowly found a friend in each other's mind

I promised to be happy, no matter what

Smile without reason and be true to myself

A sudden realization, when my son came about

One look at him and my heart healed itself

And finally I understood with all my heart

That happiness doesn’t fall from the sky
And that it was always deep within
To be sought and found in due time.
An aha moment that made
All the befuddlement worthwhile

I've kept that promise to this day

Tried to be happy, come what may

I do what I have to do, be where I have to be

I've learnt to be mindful so I feel what I feel

Mistakes made, wrong turns taken,

The occasional bad decision and a questionable choice now and then

Never have I let those bring me down

Nor have I missed learning from them

We forget to stop and savor the taste,

To see the good things in life

To smell the roses along the way

And constantly run to an unknown destination,

We forget there’s a time to laugh

And there’s a time to cry

Tomorrow will come

But first we must remember to enjoy today!

One flower is my garden

One good friend is my world

One reason to be happy
The truth I finally found

Child, teen or adult whatever trials I faced
There was always a friend, who by choice or fate

Stood steadily by my side
When I negotiated with the tide.

Who I am today, I have a lot to thank my friends for

Who I am today, my friends have a lot to answer for.

Can you imagine a life without friendship?

Without people to share your secrets, hopes and dreams?

To share good fortune or sad losses?

In the sweetness of friendship

There is laughter and sharing of pleasure

Good times made better and bad times forgotten

To all my friends from preschool to now,
Even the ones that are no longer in love 

May you always have lots of love to share

And lots of good friends to care