other people’s expectations

of how you should walk,

talk, dress, relate, perform,

and many other things

are not your burden to bear.

 

do not allow them to cage

you in. for while some of

their advice might be of use,

you get to choose what that

is or what that is not entire.

 

to accept their unfettered

opinions without discernment

creates nothing more than

a prison that keeps you

bound up tight,

 

while you are the one that holds

the lock and the key. so do not

look for approval from those

who would rather see you

bound.

 

in those meaningless interactions

with those that pass you by, you

also can decide how to interpret

their glances as either

judgement or approval.

 

and why do you often not even

consider the source, looking for

admiration from those you do

not even value. keep a tight rein

on whose opinions matter,

 

place yourself high upon that list.

evaluate the expectations of others

and if you choose to, stretch out

capable hands—and let

                them

    go.

 

Heather Pound 2023

Photo by Taylor Kopel on Unsplash