You don’t have to
for the willing

You don’t have to be the strong one. 
The nice one. 
The one who stops traffic and moves mountains.

You don’t have to be the perfect one. 
The low-maintenance one. 
The not like the others one.

You don’t have to hang with the best of them. 
Fit in. 
Dazzle at small talk. 
Work the room. 
Charm the flies.

You don’t have to excel. 
Perfect. 
Make it to the top. First. Effortless. 

So that when they appear, sweaty, shaking, on the verge
of giving up, there you are
smiling
radiant
steady breath
flawless form

        Snacks in hand.
        Lemonade at the ready.
        Giving it all away.

You don’t have to make the best lemonade
when life hands you lemons.

Instead, you can throw
them 
against the wall. 

Rage.
Sob.
Choke on your tears.
Your sorrow.

The heartbreak that is knowing
someday, the sourest of lemons will 
make its way into your hands.
Your turn at hot potato.

Instead, you can feel it all.
Be here now.
Right where you are. 

With the beautiful mess.
The wonder. 
The delight. 
The things you wish you hadn’t seen and 
the ones you cannot wait to see again. 

And again. 
And again.

The joy of one more day.
Not stockpiling lemonade recipes just in case
but standing barefoot in the grass, greeting
the puppies, the neighbors, the strangers
the ripe peaches, the close calls, the sliver of moonlight

The sliver of knowing. 
Of the truth. 
The most true you. 

Who shows up mid-walk.
Mid-talk. 
Mid-dance party. 

Because you do, you do want to
dance with somebody who loves you. 
Off-key, wobbly. In the room. 

In the room. 
In the room.
In the room. 

You’re allowed to be here.
We want you in the room.
Just as you are.