universal remote

Universal: of or pertaining to the universe, all nature, or all existing things: universal cause.

I wish I had a universal remote

Then I could rewind to my childhood

To innocence and freedom

To sunny days with sidewalk chalk on the asphalt in the summer

To not caring about anything but right here and now

Where I was always surrounded by friends and peer pressure was a myth in movies

Not a fact in life

Back then I was oblivious

Oblivious to the never ending pain and turmoil

Completely pure in heart and in mind.

Not understanding that others suffer while I play carelessly

Even though I grew up in Africa where the homeless begged for cash or food

Instead of seeing the tortured souls on the street

I saw the deep blue sky.

I saw the friends of a different color.

No troubling thoughts entered my mind at that age.

I would then pause and stay there forever

Be completely oblivious to death and sadness.

But by age 8 we already start to use the word hate more than love

We start thinking only of the bad and not the good.

Racist comments arise like the heat of boiling water just because it is taught to do so

Because it has no other choice

We were brainwashed at ten to focus only on the opposite gender

Each other boy or friend

Was simply another contender

In the race for love, affection, and to grow up quickly

If I could I would definitely tell myself to slow down and enjoy it.

But enough with the past.

On to the future

Where I could skip the hard work of my school

And forget about the world

Only focusing on my endless job

Day in day out

The same thing

But then I hear something

A fight down the hall

2 co-workers arguing

And I flash back to the present wishing I could go back

Because when you grow up

Nothing changes

The only difference is you have stopped caring instead of not knowing

But at this moment I wish I could be anywhere but here.

However something must be wrong

Because I hit the buttons on this remote yet nothing happens

I start slamming the scene selection

But nothing is working

It must be out of batteries

As I scream to the heavens

PLEASE get me out of here

Anywhere but here.

Then I realize

I am a coward

Instead of embracing the present I am wishing for anything but

And only a true strong soul cares all the time and enjoys their entire life

I hope I meet this person someday.

I would ask him one simple question

Do you know where I can buy a new universal remote?