A major flaw of the human condition is the golden rule. It gives people a mindset that we are not only all the same, but come from equal backgrounds and opportunities. It isn’t enough to treat others how you would like to be treated. Mainly because some people do not settle for the same socio-norms that you yourself might settle for, but additionally because most of us think we are better than we actually are. We would like to believe that we always take the moral high ground, that we would never be in the other person’s shoes, and that we would know how to be more accepting if we were.

On the subject of other people’s shoes, I am not entirely convinced that walking in someone else’s may prompt as much empathy as this world needs. I propose that in lieu of taking a walk in someone else’s shoes to try and relate to their emotional journey, there is a better more accurate way to incite an empathetic reaction. Think about the person you care for most in the world (if you have children, they work perfectly for this exercise), and place them in the other person’s shoes. Now tie your hands behind your back and watch from afar as they stumble.

How do you want to help them?

How could you have done better?

tweed jacket that smells like dust

bunnies hiding beneath the bed

spread honey lemon mouth wash

puddles like acid rain rusty like

broken tires rolling from the icy

dashboard littered with lights

out blue grey shark swimming

pool of garage soaked oil cans

labeled poison so drink me down

town blinks with two fingers

pressed against my eyelids warm

fire crackling underneath my feet

just air

sneaker laces tied around my neck

lace strung flesh to web like beads

of sweat racing down the highway

wired and dusty and lost and fast

forward facing blink until we jump

just air

inhale.

water dripping from the ceiling, drip drop drip drop

exhale.

streams running pouring

inhale.

what's happening cracks in the ceiling where's it all coming from there's so much too much

exhale.

water water everywhere no air drowning drowning drowning-

gone.

Despite not being a quiet person in nature, you unlearn yourself so quietly.

It’s in the way you silently stare at your hands and wonder if this skin was ever beautiful to begin with. It’s in the way you look at your written words, prose and poetry alike, and wonder if they ever really glowed at all. It’s in the way you run your finger over compliments and wonder if your palms are the ones fit to hold them.

Maybe they did, once. But not now. And this all happens ever so quietly. So delicately, that you think your heart will shrink in its chest and no one will notice it. When the sun wanes away, it is devoid of noise.

And when Rudy Francisco whispered, “I’m still learning to love the parts of me that no one claps for,” you shut your MacBook and stared at the ceiling. And you fell apart ever so quietly, and cupped the fragments of yourself ever so quietly. Validation is funny. You are a funny person. You don’t think it’s in the good way. Not now.

And you do not loathe yourself, because that would be much too loud. But you think you’re learning to un-love yourself.

Ha. What a quiet affair.

I will smile like my job depends on it.

(It does)

I will say "good morning".

(It's not)

I will act professionally.

(And not cry at my desk)

I will remember I have it better than a lot of people.

(Gratitude check)

I will not succumb to the tears tearing at the corners of my eyes.

To the thoughts begging to be voraciously voiced in anger and defiance.

I will not hand in the letter of resignation I have been composing in my head since last night.

I WILL NOT QUIT TODAY.

I will thank you for any nice thoughts you can send my way.

I have been drinking like it's my job

Second

I think I was wrong about you

I thought we could weather any storm

I thought we could rise above any argument

I thought you were my soulmate

But I found you were insecure

Fearful

Jealous

Even of a game

To whoever needs this today,

I’ve noticed you’re not okay.

To be honest I felt the same yesterday

and I know this is cliché

but it’s okay to not be okay.

The road to better is not a straight line

and honestly “better” is hard to define

so please do not make perfection a shrine

and stop telling me you’re fine

if you’re dying inside.

- Lúthien

Vibrations Aline.

Non-effort ease.

Flow bliss.

Force field.

Visions within.

Open receptiveness.

Faith love.

Mindfulness.

So shall it be

My mouth is eating me alive. Letting my insides melt away until I’m all sharp edges. It’s like a balancing act I never perfect. Because the lesser part of me feels more when I neglect my plate. When my scale slowly dips digit by digit. When the clothes start to bunch and hang a bit loose at the seams. It’s like a tightrope, but I always lose. Because the disappearing side has less to hold up. And the side that’s filling itself full, all goes crashing. It’s like the weight is pulling me into the ground. Burying me, still breathing. So I empty into earthquakes. Shake, rattle, roll. Let my insides reverberate as canyon-echo tremor. And it’s like the dirt falls away with each churning shudder. Aching and stained. And I finally float.

Bleeding colors.

Fluorescent rainbows that cause cancer.

No answers just confusion.

Bluest when the sun is out I prefer grey sky’s .

What part of broken don’t u get?

Dear angle I send god my regards.

it’s time For the wounded to find real grace.

Glass cut feet..

I’ve walked to long alone.

The rain is my only friend on this lovely night.

Together we sing , together we die. Sweet sick lullabies