I didn’t change, but their perceptions did,
now I’m so old nobody’s acting mean.
My parents tried to govern me as kid,
and peers applied full pressure to this teen.
I tried some weak compliance but I failed –
it bored and led to self-dislike’s extreme.
I sought avoiding future guilt, and nailed
the way to immigrate to self-esteem.

“She thinks she knows the answers,” some complained,
and others said the future’d bring me down.
But nothing broke too bad – some feelings sprained
and healed in time to flip a worried frown.
I’d love to credit wisdom, but I see
old age conveys invisibility.