I Thought I Was Right

Reflections

This short poem tells of a journey across different phases of life. In youth, the speaker hears the words of a wise man: First win the battle inside your head / Master your anger with all of your might — / Better to be kind than to be right. Yet these words ring hollow to a young man seeking self-assertion and independence, who is convinced that truth is on his side. He rolls his eyes, asking but what of truth? and insists, I’ll do it my way.

The consequences of the young man's defiance soon follow. The road he chooses led to ruin and waste. One underlying lesson is clear: insisting on being right can destroy relationships, isolate us, and leave us empty-handed. What feels like strength in the heat of the moment may, in the end, work against us and undermine our happiness.

By the fireside years later, the speaker acknowledges the painful lessons of his experience: My soul caught fire — and I was burned. The words he once scorned now bring him comfort: in a cold, dark world, kindness shines bright.

The man revealed at the end of I Thought I Was Right is not broken by regret but shaped by experience. He has become wiser, gentler, and more resilient.

The truth the poet has discovered is the deep value of authentic kindness—a powerful force that can sustain us through difficult times. His life shows that wisdom often arrives slowly, forged in fire, mistakes, and reflection. By the end, he no longer strives to win, but instead seeks to pass on the lessons he has learned. This short poem closes with the light of kindness.

Affirmation

I let go of the need to be right. Whenever kindness is an option, I choose it—because kindness matters more than being right.