There Is Purpose In Stillness

Free Verse

Jasmin Chew, via Unsplash

I used to think
that I couldn’t be anything
unless I kept moving
ahead, with no missteps
or re-directions
or detours along the way —
in hindsight,
it was foolish of me
to assume that everything
ought to be smooth-sailing
as quickly as possible
even during times
when I didn’t know
myself at all.

I do not need to be
constantly moving
to be worthy —
I do not need to be worth
anything at all to others
if it means I am
worth nothing to myself.

I must retreat
when I cannot outrun
myself any longer,
I must dwell
in lessons past
for as long as I need to,
I must take apart
everything that isn’t me
and learn to love
what is truly real,
without anything
standing in between me
and my reflection.