🪷 To Take Your Own Damn Time
an encouragement poem for myself (and anyone else who needs it)
You’re reaching out for change—but
not finding a handhold.
You feel a fool; frustration storms;
discouragement rains cold.
This does not mean you won’t get there
or that your worth is poor.
It certainly doesn’t mean your goal
is not worth trying for.
It only means that this is hard,
and you’re still on the climb.
Please give yourself some grace and space
to take your own damn time.
Context
I wrote this poem on our second snow day in a row (following a weekend—so, a lot of kid-time), in response to feelings of frustration that sounded like this:
“Maybe it’s just foolish to even try reaching for what I need when I have the kids (and am holding to our current screen time limits).”
No—it’s not foolish. To keep trying to tend my needs when I’m with my kids, instead of just abandoning myself until they’re on screens or asleep, is my path of learning, my “direction of correction,” and my koan. It’s hard and frustrating, but it’s worth trying for even when I feel like I’m just failing. This is what learning looks like.
In the Notebook
I know the climb well, and you're totally right--just because it's hard doesn't mean we aren't worthy of what we strive for. ❤️