I. Words of Affirmation
Start with a mantra. And a mirror.
The same words, daily.
Practice your prayer like kindness is a god
you could come to believe in.
You are forgiven.
You are worthy of love.
You get to choose how you define yourself.
Take the reassurances you reserve
for others and translate them,
not into another language,
but into another body.
Your body.
II. Gifts
Start with little happinesses.
A pack of gum from the checkout line.
A bottle of nail polish, silver and shimmering.
Search the shelves for a glimmer of understanding.
Shop for yourself.
Ask for a gift receipt.
Wrap each item in ornate paper,
carefully creasing the corners.
Remember the joy of opening up. Of being understood.
Of self-discovery.
III. Physical Touch
Start by holding your own hand.
Brush your hair out of your eyes. Tuck it
tenderly behind your ear like this is a treasure
to be savored.
Learn that waking up is a homecoming.
Become acquainted with every corner
of your body. Leave no inch unnurtured.
Over time, you begin to learn the words for this.
You hold yourself in your arms, soothe your own heartbeat.
You are beginning to think that this is called trust.
IV. Acts of Service
Start with the dishes in the sink,
then move on to the pile of laundry
fossilized in the corner of your room.
Excavate those material burdens, so
the cold relief of tile can soothe
your tired feet once more.
Unclog the shower drain,
replace the dead lightbulbs,
put a new liner in the trash can.
Hold the door open,
so that you can step through it.
Become the architect of your own story.
V. Quality Time
Start by asking yourself out.
When you say yes, become
giddy with excitement. Unleash
a colony of butterflies in your
chest. Become the object of
your affection.
A dinner for one. A single ticket stub.
Debate the finer points of modern art
in an overly dim museum. Surprise yourself
with the way the gear clicks in your mind
morph into music.
Eat dim sum alone and relearn the way
pork buns melt on your tongue
and turn your belly into a fireplace.
As you sit with yourself, come to understand
That this, too, is a miracle.
