How to Love Yourself

Promise yourself
that you will do things
right this time

Swear to yourself that
you really can keep
promises

Tell yourself that you
have what it takes -
that you're only failing
because you aren't
trying hard enough

But repeat to yourself more often that
sometimes it really isn't your fault -
sometimes the teacher is terrible
or you didn't have time to eat
or you were just too tired
to function

Tell yourself that you
know what you're doing.
Tell yourself that you
are prepared to fly
even if your wings are
only half-built

Tell yourself that you'll
finish them
tomorrow

And if you ever catch
yourself breaking down,
god, just don't stop running
or else you'll realize
that your lungs are
starved for oxygen

Just repeat while breathless,
"I am okay. I am okay. I am okay.
I am okay-"

Write across your collarbone:
"I am not trash.
I am enough.
I deserve to be happy.
I am perfect and
nothing needs fixing."

Everything's the fault of
the rest of the world