i always imagined that i would one day be
cool, calm and collected, serene,
with my self-consciousness completely
expired—and sometimes i am
but more often than not i find myself
a little bit restless, a little bit frazzled,
the one who trips over the crack
in sidewalk known or drops a fork
on the floor loud in the middle of the
wedding speech
but now when all eyes turn towards me,
i find i am not as bothered as back
when i was younger still
because i remember things like
how much my children belly laugh
and smile at the memory of me
falling face first on soft turf,
thankfully unharmed–but
unable to get up for a moment
on account of laughter
ringing raucous and free
i have learned that it really does not matter
that i am seldom calm, cool and collected
because life is unpredictable and
it’s better to embrace me
the genuine version that usually fidgets
too much when everyone else sits still
because genuine i respect in others
and is all i can authentically be.
—there is a deep and lasting freedom that comes with authenticity and your authenticity encourages others to relax as well
Heather Pound 2024
Heather Pound 