From A Better Place

"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self."

Ernest Hemingway 💫

I crave a gentle life.
I know what hell looks like already.
More harsh lessons aren’t necessary.
Give me soft evenings, sweet as chocolate.
Nights worn like wool.
Let’s laugh till we’re in tears,
alongside those who make loving us look easy.
I want to breathe in the air of everywhere I once dreamt of making memories.
Though my hardships have shaped me,
in beautiful and painful ways that I will forever be grateful for,
I want my days to be full and affectionate.
I want to be formless,
someone who flows and moves without worry.
Some days I’m water.
Others, I’m lava.
Both are real.
Both are me.
All versions of me are honest and necessary.
Who I am is safe when respected.
I’d rather be a great friend to a few
than an acquaintance to many.
I’d rather be widely accepting
than widely accepted.
I want to be the one that others know it’s safe to turn to.
I want to be the person who I needed all those years ago.
There’s a softness within me that wasn’t always there.
It grew from heinous places.
Cold, callous, remorseful places.
My softness is my greatest strength.
To not be hardened by the very things meant to break you,
that’s what I’m most proud of.
Now, everyone near me gets my light.
This way we all shine.

- J. Raymond

Maybe right now you have to realize that your journey is not about loving another person
Maybe right now, you have to love yourself first and feel the inner peace of being alone
Maybe right now, you need to figure yourself out and ask yourself why you're rushing the things that can wait
Maybe this is the time to learn how to sleep at night without expecting someone to say goodnight and waking up tomorrow with smile and forgiveness
In that way you will value your personal space and you can give yourself the permission to do your passion and achieve your dreams without worrying about time.
Maybe right now you are being taught that you can take care of your soul and you don't need anyone else to do it for you.
Maybe today marks the beginning of the new version of you, someone that will not rent some space in other person's heart. Because darling, I believe that you can be your own home. A home that will satisfy all your needs and wants. A home that will never get abandoned. And I hope someday you will learn to believe it too.

— Balt
Art: earbean