you don’t have to be everything

maybe there are no problems to solve,

you are not an equation…

add more happiness

subtract sadness

multiply by and absurd amount of positivity

that isn’t you,

as much as you wish you could be that person,

happy-go-lucky without a care in the world

you don’t have to be okay

or even pretend to be okay.

you don’t have to move past anything before it’s time.

and maybe,

just maybe,

you can trust yourself to know when it’s time.

you don’t have to stop crying

or try to get rid of parts of yourself that don’t shine from practices polish.

you don’t have to convince your therapist that you’re funny.

you don’t have to bend over backwards for your partner to love you.

you don’t even have to get out of bed in the morning and fain productivity.

I don’t know if you heard,

but the world is falling apart at its seams and if she can come unglued then so can you.

instead,

practice being gentle with yourself

and not expecting perfection on the first try

practice leaving yourself messy

practice accepting help

practice letting her love you

you don’t have to be everything

you just have to be.

she just wants you to exist