30 things I have accomplished and learned within the 30 years I have lived in haiku

1. Survived brain tumor / brain surgery at eighteen / benign with headaches

2. Airbag crushed my skull / damaged memory, face, eye / somehow still alive

3. Two bachelor degrees / English, Political Science / and using neither

4. Packed two suitcases / moved to Ireland for school / never thought I’d come back

5. Earned master’s degree / thought I’d work for CIA / or live in Dublin

6. Published my poems / in online magazines and / read a few on stage

7. Took my words on stage / and competed in a slam / I lost but I learned

8. Quit soul-sucking job / and backpacked throughout Europe / tried a change of life

9. Self-published a book / I wrote while in Europe / Overcame nothing

10. Found us a townhome / in downtown Littleton and / near the Platte bike path.

11. Married my school crush / in a courtroom with family / kept it intimate

12. Won three bike races / Time Trial, Crit, and Road Race / and always surprised

13. Upgrade to Cat 3 / after first Cat 4 season / miss the podiums

14. Online dating apps / Survived break-ups and dating / those endless heartaches

15. Started a podcast / for women/trans/femme athletes / and it’s been a blast

16. Directed and led / The Vagina Monologues / for four awesome years

17. I’ve traveled the world / from Canada to Japan / Ireland the most

18. First tattoo with mom / and every year afterward / covered my body

19. Took a gondola / bungee-jumped above a lake / surrounded by fog

20. Tied up to a man / and sky-dived from high above / I guided us down

21. Tried sprint triathlon / thought I’d drown in the swim but / killed it on the bike

22. Hiked up 14ers / throughout Colorado and / even 13’ers

23. Jared brought it up / run Colfax Half-Marathon / so I did just that

24. Joined pedal to race / Led Women’s Road Racing team / then became VP

25. Stopped wearing make-up / felt naked and not pretty / remained confident

26. Liked to exercise / I studied to become a / personal trainer

27. Realized I’ve focused / on my status instead of / how fulfilled I am

28. Realized I’m better / off staying alive and I / always have a choice

29. Choosing to put health / before everything else ‘cause / it will take you far

30. Accepting people / won’t like me and that’s on them / I need to let go

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