Years ago, I promised myself:

After Maya Angelou, Martha Beck, & Chelsie Diane
‘I bring a lot to bear. And, I don’t know how not to.’ – Maya Angelou

Only truth.
Only kindness.
Only freedom.

Because, I am on an unstoppable train.
I move when love moves.
By which I mean,
I am nothing other than truth.
Because, when you live life,
stepping only into beams
of light that are bolstered by verity,
the dark parts can’t grip to you.
You are free.
The words that others speak
-that have no grounding-
can never make you lose your
footing, because you already
know from the depths
of your belly, you’ve promised
to tell the gospel of your life.

But, truth can bring a lot to bear.
Truth can be difficult to be around,
to understand, to absorb.
Other things are easier to stand in.
Other things are easier to ask others to accept.
Other things are easier to put on like a slippery
dress that looks nice, but doesn’t let you breathe
underneath. That constricts airflow.
That makes you smaller, quieter.
Prettier.

I will be messy.
I will be tousled.
I will likely make you uncomfortable.
But, I will always say the truest thing I know.

I’ve left dark places behind.