When I was younger, actually not that long ago,
I used to think there was a balance in my life,
Not one that I had control over, not one I could dictate,
Sometimes I would forget it was there, until moments of strife,

I had a little bit of joy, and a lot of hardship,
But I told myself that it was deserved,
That the cost of being cheerful was pricey,
And so even happiness kept me unnerved,

When things went right, things had to go bad,
That’s just how I thought,
And there were a dozen ills for a single joy,
In the weight of misfortune, I was caught,

But recently I’ve thought it not so much,
That I must pay for happy moments with sad years,
Because I’m a different person than before,
No longer swallowed by my fears,

I will be happy more than I will be sad,
For the rest of my life, believe me,
For I no longer believe that that the universe holds my scales,
For happiness, I will pay no fee.