i 

Before anything  

did or did not go as planned  

you were just yourself  

 

And afterwards, when  

you got or did not get what   

you had hoped you would  

 

you were still there; but  

now with an experience   

you think defines you  

 

ii 

have enough of these  

and you can start to lose track  

of just who you are  

 

am I the result  

of the responses I get  

to the things I do;  

 

or, is who I am  

valuable no matter what  

the response may be? 

 

iii 

if you still have to 

prove yourself on steep ladders 

one rung at a time  

 

as if someone else   

could give you what only you    

can give to yourself  

 

you might have outgrown 

the tiny little spaces  

you let yourself have  

 

iv 

you are not alive 

to prove your right to exist  

but to be yourself 

 

whatever you do  

whatever you think they think  

enjoy who you are 

 

that's your only job

being the one and only

you that ever lived