The Thieves Of Joy
A poem
Comparison. Perfection. Not appreciating what is right in front of you. The kind of anxiety that sits in your bones like marrow. Imposter syndrome. Doom scrolling. Waiting for the other shoe to drop when you already have two shoes on your feet. Depression. Exhaustion. Overextending yourself to the point where you forget you’re a human, not a machine. Staying up late when you really want to go to bed. Going out for the happy hour when you really want to go home. Saying “yes” when you really wanted to say “no.” Not accepting the praise you deserve. Not extending yourself grace when needed. Lack of nuance. Lack of listening. Ignoring all the shades of grey. Shoes that pinch your feet. Pants that squeeze your stomach. Letting the world mold you into someone you are not. Forgetting that you get to tell the world exactly who you are.
