Mike Marker 43

Used to fly down backroads with nothin’ to lose

Windows down, future wide, pickin’ any route I’d choose

Thought I had forever and then some more

Didn’t count the miles, just hit the floor

But the mirror don’t lie like it used to do

And the dreams I chase now… look more like truth

Less about speed, more about weight

Less about me, more about what I create

I’m closer to the end than the start

But there’s still fire in the heart

I’ve lost some time, gained some grace

Left behind the race for place

The road behind had wild turns

The one ahead’s where legacy burns

Might be mile marker 43

But there’s still a whole lot left of me

I’ve seen the signs that youth don’t read

Like “Slow it down” and “Watch who you lead”

I used to grip the wheel with a tighter hand

Now I ride with a purpose — and a better plan

Used to want my name in lights

Now I want it in my children’s eyes at night

I’m not done, but I’m not the same

And I’m finally okay with that change

I’m closer to the end than the start

But I’ve learned what sets men apart

A name don’t mean much in stone

If you didn’t build more than your own

The road behind had rage and flame

The one ahead’s got weight and name

Might be mile marker 43

But there’s still a whole damn road in me

I don’t miss bein’ 20…

I miss not knowing how fast it goes

But I’ve still got time

To leave something worth the miles

Yeah, I’m closer to the end than the start

But I’m drivin’ with a fuller heart

I’ve made mistakes, made a life

Made it through the hardest nights

The road behind? That was for me

The road ahead… is who I’ll be

And mile marker 43?

Feels like exactly where I’m meant to be