You are Worthy

a poem

So, yet again, here we are. Another piece inspired by work with the Embodying Spirit Collective lead by Mandisa Mosi … in gratitude.

you were born worthy
of the right to take up space
to be beautifully imperfect
to create from a place of fearless love
to grow slowly and deliberately
to speak truth 

you were born worthy 
of compassion and forgiveness 
of care and being held
being heard and being seen
of making mistakes and learning as you go

you were born worthy
of honoring your light

you were born worthy 
of love
to be love
to give and to receive love

you were born worthy 
and yet you have doubted your worth since early childhood
fearful of being unlovable
unhuggable
not worthy of being someone’s 
number 1 
so, you settled for number 2 or 3 or 4

you have allowed those that did not know 
how to hold you
dishonor your essence 
dim your light

you have allowed disrespect
swallowed it to have
a portion of what you are worth

you have underestimated your value
squandered your gifts
just trying to exist

yet here you are
standing boldly
in the now

learning how to honor your light
how to take up space
embracing what you are due
what you earned before you were born

you are Mighty
you are Love
you are Worthy 

Afternote: I’ve been writing poetry since grade school as a way to process pain, journaling alongside this creative outlet to understand myself. My first poem was about being alone, my second poem about being the side chick. I’ve come a long way since then but what I am learning is that healing is a long game. It involves repetition, re-visiting wounds to tend them gently towards healing and sometimes that takes circling back multiple times in multiple lifetimes. There is no magic pill, potion or incantation for healing. It is slow and often times painful, change is. I am blessed to be able to continue to do the work. Take from these pieces what resonates with you and leave the rest.

In love always,

Aleea

Photo by Anuj Yadav on Unsplash