To be.

It's so easy to look at someone else

And to think you know their story.

It's so easy to look at yourself

And pretend what is...is not.

It's like we learn at a young age

To act right

To look good

To do it all

To make it count

And I'm not even sure 

Those messages are fully harmful

But I know we must also

Remind each other 

to be mindful

That acting right can be wrong

When you are having to fake it

That looking good does not matter

If you aren't feeling good

You can't do it all without

Losing some along the way

And you can't make it count

when you can't make it.

But dear one

In the midst of 

claiming your truth

Of proclaiming it's okay

to not be okay,

Don't neglect

to care for yourself

to get your rest

take your medicine

or see your doctor. 

Please take the time

That you need.

To be.

Because we need you to be.