You pretend there isn’t a storm
Nothing to protect you from the rain and hail
You walk barefoot in the alley
Glass hidden in the cracks of the pavement
Penetrating the soles of your feet
You never complained
You took on the ocean
You never swam in anything deeper than 5ft
Yet you rode waves
shaping your own reality
Living freely
You never feared a thing
You said it never existed
It was all an illusion
I found your diary
Your fears were hidden in thin pages
Wrinkles on each
Written in cursive
Numbered
I was number one
Sitting on the edge of a rock while my feet hover over the ocean swinging back and forth. I inhaled so deep and closed my eyes while I exhaled. I hear nothing but the ocean waves and the seagulls flying overhead. The smell of the salt is so strong I can taste it. This place brings me to a quiet place that is usually very loud and chaotic; like one thought would manifest the next thought and the next thought would bring fear. But when I am here, it isn’t just me; I become one with the ocean, the rocks, and the wind. I start setting intentions and thinking positivity into my life; all the while meditating to the sound of one of life’s most precious gifts. We sometimes get too wrapped in the adversities we face in our everyday lives and we forget to check in on ourselves. And we when forget to check in, we often become unrecognizable to ourselves. We don’t want to get up and do those simple tasks we tell ourselves to do daily, because the bed sounds like a much better place to be. Small tasks such as taking a shower or just leaving my bedroom for a couple of hours was dreadful for me when I was going through a rough time in my life. I found something that takes me to a place and relaxes my entire body and most importantly my mind. There is nothing more important than self-care; I get it, your career is important to you and it is vital that you stay on top of it. Except, how will you be able to continue to excel in your career if you’re not in a healthy mindset? If you’re not in the best mental health, then you’re probably not in the best physical health; which leads to poor health choices and it will have a negative impact on your physical health leading to future conditions. All I’m saying is take the time you need for yourself. If you love your life, family, friends, and career; how the hell will you be able to show them if you’re not showing it to yourself. We must take care of ourselves first, even if that means a little retail shopping. Find that place or that thing, then find the peace in it and you’ll become one with everything.