Accepted

By John Ganshaw

Being young and learning how to ride a bike
Catching a baseball for the first time
Making the touchdown that wins the game
Find out you have the lead in the play
You are the first chair in the school orchestra
Such firsts for you and how happy you are
Family doesn’t celebrate or recognize all you have done
Too young to recognize you are a family of one
On your own from such a young age
To be accepted by the man who gave you life
Just a wish, seeing others get what you are deprived
Don’t give in, in time it will strengthen your stride
Older now and that is all in the past
You move on and live a life you dreamed
Give to others what you never had
Encourage them to be and cheer them on
See them grow wings and fly so high
Not a parent because you are so much more
You see from the past and help others to be
Accepted by family was not your choice
Accepted by others who saw who you were
Time goes by and nothing will change
What was lost as a child can’t be regained
Not being given what was deserved
The expectation that saddens will make you much more
You see in others what happened to you
Provide and grant them what was not given to you
Through all the pain, the hurt, you have survived
In the end, you are accepted by you
It doesn’t make up for all that was lost, but 
Now you are accepted by the person 
Whom most matters at all.

At the age of 53 and after 31 years in banking it was time for John to retire and follow his dream of owning a hotel in Southeast Asia.  This led to many new experiences enabling John to see the world through a different lens, leading him to write his story through essays, poetry, and a yet unpublished memoir.  There is hope, truth, and adventure in life, all leading to stories that need to be written and told.