tell me what i should do
to be
liked
accepted
loved
cherished
by them
the 8-year-old girl asked
begging her mirror for an answer
as tears rolled down her cheeks
her 17-year-old reflection smiled back
be unapologetically you,
she replied
be the
kind
overcaring
overloving
pure at heart
genuine in character
girl you are
and those who choose
to know you
to know
all your
deepest
fears
flaws
insecurities
nightmares
and choose
to love you
unconditionally regardless
those are your people,
and you will
never
ever
have to
alter
change
or reinvent
yourself for them
wait for those people,
they will come in time
i promise you
do not settle
in friendships
or
relationships
no matter
how hard the urge might be
i know you're tired
of pretending you’re okay
you come home everyday
with another thing about yourself
you want to change
you get a new haircut
you buy new clothes
you abandon everything about yourself
that makes you who you are
only for it to backfire
i know
you're exhausted
on the brink of giving up
you want nothing more
than to be
loved
and
cared
about
in the same way
you do for others
and you deserve nothing less either
you ARE different
than them
you should not be
trying to fit in
when you were
born to stand out