you are allowed
to break out of the old you
if it constricts you
like a pair of too tight jeans
you don’t keep pressing yourself into them
you go and get yourself new ones that fit
because your body keeps changing
and so does your mind

so who cares
if you had long hair all your life
and everyone likes your long hair so very much
take the scissors and
cut them off

who cares
if you’ve been doing this for years
but are curious for something else now
drop it and sign up new

you are not your past self
you don’t have to keep her alive
to satisfy other people’s expectations
you are allowed to **** her every evening
before going to bed
and rise anew from her ashes
the next morning