The Jaime David Podcast – Episode 22: One Year Later is out now.
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Read the episode transcript below:
Jaime David Podcast — Episode 22
Title: One Year Later
Hey everyone, this is Jaime David. Today’s episode is very personal. It’s called One Year Later, about my late uncle, who passed away in 2019. I wrote this poem just a few days after the anniversary of his passing, back in April 2020—right when COVID-19 was already changing the world.
Losing him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. And going through that loss right as the pandemic hit made everything feel even heavier. But writing this poem helped me hold onto hope when so much felt uncertain.
Here’s the poem:
One Year Later
It’s been a year since you’ve been gone.
You’re gone from our lives, but not our hearts.
I’ve known you all my life, and I still can’t believe you’re gone.
I miss you a lot. I wish you were here.
I’ve got so much to tell you. I’ve got so much to say.
All I can really do is live life day by day
And take chances in life to see where things will congregate.
I don’t know where I’ll be in a couple of years from now,
But one thing I do know is that I won’t ever back down.
I won’t let fear and insecurity
Prevent me from being me,
Seeing all I can see,
And being the best person that I can be!
You always taught me to not give up,
To not give in,
And to never quit.
You taught me to pursue my goals and dreams no matter how hard they may be.
You taught me to overcome obstacles and challenges no matter how difficult they may seem.
You had so much potential and so much life left to live.
I wanted to see you be happy and succeed.
You were taken from this world too soon.
I wish you could see the person that I’ve become!
Reading these words again reminds me of something very important — even when life feels hard or unfair, we can find strength by holding onto hope and moving forward, day by day. The poem is a promise to myself to keep going, to live fully, and to grow into the person my uncle believed I could be.
My uncle had a simple but powerful phrase he would say when things got tough: “Don’t be a quitter.” That advice wasn’t just about never giving up for the sake of it. It was about refusing to let fear or hardship stop you from being who you’re meant to be. It’s about resilience—finding the courage to keep trying, to learn from failure, and to keep pushing toward your dreams even when the road is rough.
I want everyone listening to remember this too. When life knocks you down, when you feel lost or overwhelmed, don’t give up. Don’t be a quitter. Hold onto hope, lean on the people who care about you, and keep taking small steps forward.
You might not know exactly where you’ll end up, but as long as you don’t quit, there’s always a chance for something better ahead.
Thank you for spending this time with me. Stay strong, be kind to yourself, and remember: your story is still unfolding. Keep writing it with courage and hope. I’ll catch you in the next episode.
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