What Matters, For Real

That you are able to see the suffering in others, underneath their defenses and attacks made to shield

That you are able to see the suffering in yourself, underneath your riots of internalized pain

That you are willing to learn the word forgiveness and practice the word acceptance

That you are open to people who love you unconditionally

That you are becoming a person who loves unconditionally

That you are never too old to be surprised, too young to be wise, too tired to be kind

That you give every ounce of your gifts

That you generously receive what is given to you

That you lay in the grass and listen to the wind, because the earth is your mother and losing her is like losing breath

That you are honest

That you believe in people, in humans, in each other

That you do your part

That you honor what you can and cannot do

That you be yourself, all of you, over the top

That you find friends and lovers who love you for you

That you can laugh at the very bottom

That you can cry and the very top

That you can dress yourself in clothes that feel powerful and divine and true

That you are humble in the face of critique or caution  

That you tell the ones you love it's so; today, right now

That you bring everything in you to the table, every time you sit down

That you hold zero judgment about what you're able to bring

That you can say "oh well" and "fuck it" and "I wish"

That you can practice letting go of so much pain and so much suffering

That you are able to see yourself as strong and sweet, even now, even this time, even as your heart hardens and cracks