My Little Aches and Pains

My little aches and pains
remind me,
at the end of the day,
what I could have avoided doing,
but chose to do, instead.

These little aches and pains
are the price my body paid
for being who I want to be,
each day,
as entropy ticks out
the minutes, days, and years
of my life.

These little aches and pains
awaken me, some days,
reminding me of the choice
that every day offers me.

These little aches and pains
admonish me
that each day is a gift,
that it is not
to be taken for granted.

These little aches and pains
remind me
of another day
worth living.