YOu

I didn’t think I could, so I couldn’t.

I didn’t think I would, so I wouldn’t.

Until one day I heard the roar,

of a giant, smoldering meteor.

In PE outside on the grass,

I realized it would likely crash.

It was bolting through a cloudless sky

and at that moment there was no try.

My mind was clear, I had to flea,

so I dashed the fastest in PE.

I hurled over jumps; I jumped over hurdles.

I lifted my friends and saved my class turtle.

My typical shy and quiet voice.

was bold and loud, there was no choice.

Without self-doubt, my hero came through.

I did all the things I didn’t think I could do.

The hero in me was there all along

stuck behind words like:

“I can’t.” 

“I’m wrong.”

To my great relief the rock flew over town.

To my great relief I stopped putting me down.

From that day forward I decided I’d be

a person who believed in me!

What if I fall? said Pigeon to Paul.

What if it’s icky? said Narwal to Niki.

What if I can’t? said Gibbon to Grant.

What if I forget? said Cat to Colette.

What if I’m afraid? said Giraffe to Jade.

What if I miss you? said Llama to Lu.

Then came a pause and a low-pitched groan.

When the crowd grew restless and began to moan...

the nervous narwal glanced over at Paul,

who stood as he spoke reaching 6 feet tall.

“If we worry about all the what ifs, big and small,

then what if we don’t use what ifs at all?

What if we let the moment just be?

Go with the flow without the worry.

Another pause followed with a low-pitched groan.

When the crowd grew restless and began to moan…

Giraffe gently bowed and whispered to his friends,

who scurried and scampered and flew to higher stems.

“I think our what ifs are holding us back.

I think our what ifs have led us off track.

I think we’ll be fine if we do our best

to drop the what ifs that make us feel stressed.”

Heads eagerly nodded, even those who felt shy.

They nodded and knew they could give it a try.

Or better than simply giving it a shot-

they knew they could give it 

all that they got!

Last week, 

I’d felt insulted and sad

when I was ignored by my dear ol’ dad.

So, I told my pops while we were playing ball, 

the moment had made me feel slighted and small.

He looked into my eyes and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry,” he said.  “That wasn’t my best.”

“Next time I’ll be paying much closer attention.

Hurting your feelings was not my intention.”

My mind felt at ease, I stood a bit taller.

With stuff off my chest, I was a better basketballer.

I unshrugged my shoulders and lifted my chin.

I dribbled with speed, my shots went right in.

He said in the future, 

I should always stay true 

to expressing myself 

when I’m feeling blue.

Drop your shoulders, shake them out

and when they’re soft like jelly,

imagine pulling in a breath,

deep down to your belly.

Inhale slowly with lips shut,

breathing through the nose.

Then exhale from your open mouth-

counting as you go.

Breathe in for a count of four,

then pause and hold it in.

Breathe out for a count of seven.

before the next begins.

Inhale and exhale as you need

to feel better, good, renewed,

focused on the positive,

and back into your groove.