I am still Burt. Just a different Burt.

Yes, I have cancer.

No, that's not for you.

It's for me.

Why?

I can't admit that to myself.

I live my life like I don't, like I never will.

Am I being true to myself? NOPE.

So what does it mean?

It means I am still Burt, but just a different Burt.

I still dream big

but my dreams might stay dreams.

I still act big

and I try to keep doing that.

Have I quieted down?

no.

Has my energy changed?

Yes.

But has it changed in a bad way?

No, it's changed in a different way.

I am still me, just a different me.

I have a love for life

I imagine doing things that push me

I still do them

but those have changed to.

I write more, even poems

never did that before!

Jumping out of a plane?

sure.

Climbing a 14k foot mountain? maybe not

There are things I can still do.

They are just different

I am different

But thats ok.

It's not easy, but it's ok.

I am learning.

Learning what it means to be Burt in 2026, not Burt from 2010.

It's a different Burt.

Is it better?

I like to think so.

Is it more grounded?

A little bit. Because it has to be.

Is it a more aware Burt?

A Burt who helps?

A Burt who connects and is more connected?

I like to think so

So, when I plan a trip I am excited about but don't go

when I have big plans that I can't do

when I take naps because I don't have energy

Is it bad?

No, it's not bad Burt. It's just different

Different can be good.

Think of what I have learned about myself, others, the world.

New realizations that I didn't have before.

New engagement, new awareness, new appreciation.

Is it worth the cost of not climbing mountains?

I don't know. It's just different.

So am I. I am just different.

Am I different because I have cancer?

Or did the cancer wake me up

and lead me to be different.

We won't ever know.

But despite my limits, I don't give up.

I keep dreaming, keep trying to do.

I won't stop.

So yes, I have cancer, but it doesn't define me, it has just changed me.